Plans approved for new homes in Wiltshire despite fierce opposition
Up to 200 new homes have been given the greenlight to be constructed near the Kennet and Avon Canal in Devizes regardless of locals deeming them unnecessary.
On 24th May the proposal for land by the Kennet and Avon Canal, off Coate Road was approved by a government inspector after the developers appealed against Wiltshire Council’s refusal of the plans on 3rd November last year.
As well as creating new homes, the application also includes room for shops, a hot food takeaway, a ‘commercial business centre’ and a ‘drinking establishment’ but local residents and politicians objected.
The proposal will offer 30% affordable housing and £500,000 towards funding works to the canal towpath to provide and improve accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.
Councillors from the local authority who refused the application argued the proposal area was outside the development sites allocated in the Neighbourhood Plan so should not be allowed.
However, a government inspector ruled the benefits the new estate will bring, such as affordable new homes, outweigh the impact on the landscape which lies 125m from an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Alongside this, the inspector overruled the refusal because the council does not have a five-year housing land supply, which means it has not shown it will be able to provide enough sites for the development of the required number of houses over the next five years and so this development will help make up the housing shortfall. Especially during a time when affordable homes are in the most demand.
MP for Devizes, Danny Kruger, tweeted in response to the approval, ‘Wiltshire needs a lot of new homes – we don’t need ugly inappropriate imposed developments like this.
‘[…]the application was approved despite objections by me, CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England), the town council and all. Why? Because of the arbitrary Five-Year Housing land Supply rule.’
In response, the plans from developers Robert Hitchins Ltd argue: ‘The proposals respect the local character but also move the community towards a more sustainable future, through an increase in housing choice.’
Image: Andy Newton