Plans for 135 homes north of Royal Wootton Bassett likely to gain approval despite countryside concerns
Development promises affordable housing and infrastructure improvements
Wiltshire Council’s Northern Area Planning Committee is poised to approve plans for 135 homes on farmland north of Royal Wootton Bassett, despite opposition concerning its encroachment into open countryside.
Set for consideration on 14th October, the Gleeson Land scheme intends to utilize land north of Swindon Road, incorporating housing, public open space, play areas, drainage infrastructure, and a new access road.
Although the proposal deviates from Wiltshire’s development plan by extending beyond the town’s settlement boundary, planning officers argue that national planning policy and the county’s housing demand favour approval.
The development includes 54 affordable homes, accounting for 40 percent of the total, with the remaining 81 properties for open market sale.
In response to planning concerns, a significant package of developer contributions has been proposed, featuring more than £1.57 million for educational facilities, funds for bus services, and enhancements at M4 Junction 16.
The project includes upgraded cycling infrastructure, rights of way improvements, sports facilities, and recycling services.
Resistance from Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council, Lydiard Tregoze Parish Council, and the Campaign to Protect Rural England highlights fears of urban sprawl, alongside residents' anxieties about traffic increase and infrastructure strain.
Proximity to the nationally-important Post Mill scheduled monument is acknowledged, with mitigation measures in place like buffer zones, open spaces, and interpretation features.
Historic England, despite initial concerns, has not objected to the plan.
Highway upgrades, including new junctions, crossings, and speed limit reductions, form crucial components of the proposed development.
Planning officers advocate for approval due to the benefits of housing supply, community infrastructure, and transport improvements, which are considered to outweigh the objections.