WESTBURY town councillors have expressed their frustration over the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to approve the construction of 67 homes on greenfield land south of Sandhole Lane in Westbury Leigh, despite widespread opposition from the town council and local residents.
Wiltshire Council previously rejected the application on grounds that the development was unsustainable, pointing to its location in open countryside and to a lack of infrastructure. The land promoting company, Gleeson Strategic Land Ltd, made adjustments to their plans, an appeal was submitted, and the Planning Inspectorate has subsequently approved the appeal ‘with conditions’.
A statement from the highways, planning and development committee of Westbury Town Council reads, “Westbury Town Council is extremely disappointed that the objections of local residents and the town council have been ignored by the planning inspector and that the appeal by the developers to build houses adjacent to Sandhole Lane has been approved with conditions.
“Westbury has had more than its fair share of development during the past ten years and has nearly doubled in size, with very little corresponding infrastructure investment.
“One of the reasons developers can target Westbury is because Wiltshire Council has not produced a five-year (housing) land supply plan which makes it easier for developers to put in a planning application and get their plans approved.
“The five-year land supply was introduced in 2012 when the government issued new national planning guidelines. This was called the National Planning Policy Framework and its aim was to increase the supply of new homes, making councils identify their housing need and provide a plan for delivering the new homes. Without a five-year (housing) land supply, the national planning policy, rather than local rules, take priority in Wiltshire, meaning there is a “presumption in favour of sustainable development”.
“Previously there was windfall development in Westbury due to the lack of a Wiltshire five-year land supply plan and yet again with the Sandhole Lane planning application, the developers can take advantage of this gap in planning policy, building properties in the West Wilts corridor without real challenge. The town council will continue to expect Wiltshire Council to address this issue for the sake of the community. The town council is baffled as to why the five-year land supply remains incomplete by Wiltshire yet again.
“As with so many matters involving Wiltshire Council, Westbury deserves better.”
Conditions of the appeal state that 30% of the proposed dwellings should be affordable housing and the developer is to provide an appropriate financial contribution towards early years education (in particular, infrastructure at Cygnets Preschool).
Conditions also state that as well as providing extra financial contributions towards waste and recycling equipment for the proposed houses, the developer must also financially contribute towards local public transport (replacing the bus shelter at Chalford) and improve walking/cycling facilities. The Planning Inspectorate also asked for a Traffic Regulation Order for the extension of parking restrictions on Leighton Park North/Laverton Road junction.
