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Farmland Housing Idea Branded Excessive
(March 22, 2022)Warminster town councillors are sticking to their 14 point objection to plans to develop housing on land bordering their town alongside the Westbury Road and have added two more concerns.
Barratt Homes have made some tweaks to original application for farmland between the market town and Upton Scudamore.
Councillor Phil Keeble said he would like to speak first to represent the view of the absent north ward member.
“This does not meet the government NPPF guidelines,” said cllr. Keeble referring to the National planning Policy Framework.
“These are not affordable homes which will sell at over £300,000.”
It brought handclaps from some amongst the 30 members of the public present.
Councillor Keeble then told the meeting about concerns over highways issues, the inappropriate setting, and it being against the Neighbourhood Plan.
“On the 22nd November we quite rightly rejected this,” said Cllr. Paul Macdonald.
“There were 14 reasons and although there have been slight tweaks with two roads in and out instead of three and a bit more screening so I would like to briefly outline them.
“This is outside the county agreed settlement boundary for Warminster.”
Members of the planning advisory committee and the public heard about the scale of the development, biodiversity, flooding, and Wessex Water concerns about sewerage capacity.
He added concerns about traffic problems. housing needs not being met, and the use of the argument by the developer that the county housing supply target needs to be met.
There was more applause from local residents.
Excessive Housing
“The five year housing supply that Warminster has to to contribute land to has already been met in in my view,” argued cllr. Macdonald.
“205 homes is completely excessive when the developer itself has revealed that Warminster may have to find 60.
“If it is used by developers for all the major towns and villages in Wiltshire then we will end up with a ten-year housing.
“It is not an exception site. We additionally object to this argument being used.”
Councillors voted unanimously to oppose adding one more concern expressed by councillor Sue Fraser.
“This shows the road being straight at the development.,said cllr. Fraser. ”It is at a blind bend for one of roads.”