A TARGET of building 710 new houses in Westbury over the next 15 years was revealed at the online launch of a public consultation on Wiltshire Council’s new Local Plan, which sets out development aims for the county until 2036.
This number of new houses would be extra to the more than 1,000 which are already being built in the town or have received planning permission.
But despite the proposal for more houses, any plans for a bypass to reduce the copious amount of traffic driving through the town remain up in the air.
Council officers hosting the webinar on Tuesday last week did however urge residents to participate in the consultation, saying it was the perfect vehicle by which to raise the bypass question.
During a public question and answer session after a presentation by planning officers outlining the Local Plan and its aims and purposes, two residents asked, “Given that the A350 adversely affects the health and wellbeing of every Westbury resident, how can any new housing be proposed until a bypass is built?” And, “Will a bypass route be included in the new plan?”
Jeff Winslow, a spatial planning team leader replied, “We see a significant number of HGVs and vans going through Westbury and it’s a big issue we are trying to tackle.”
He said tackling that included measuring and reporting to DEFRA (Department for Environment and Rural Affairs) about whether or not air quality was being improved.
The spatial planning team was trying to save the route of the proposed bypass included in the council’s Core Strategy document, which was adopted in 2015 and runs until 2026, Jeff Winslow explained.
The Core Strategy and the Local Plan would overlap, but the team needed to review housing numbers and employment requirements, he added.
“In the Core Strategy the inspector was looking for us to demonstrate there was a scheme being put forward by the town council to deliver a bypass by 2026, but we couldn’t do that,” he said.
The officers would be looking into the possibility of future government funding to address the matter, the meeting heard.
“There are improvements planned at Yarnbrook, looking at the traffic that builds up on the A350, and a scheme to improve the A350,” Jeff Winslow said. “We suggest the consultation is the vehicle to raise the bypass question and if it’s achievable.”
Slides presented during the meeting showed the housing requirement for the county was 45,000 new builds, spread over four housing market areas. In Westbury, 1,820 new properties were needed. Deducting from that the number of houses already being built or received planning permission, the officers proposed the figure of 710 more in the plan.
The consultation asks residents to comment on whether that number is too high or low and why. Officers explained there was a “brownfield first” policy in respect of where new houses would be built.
Members of the public asked at the meeting, “All the proposed allocation are in/around Westbury itself. What housing numbers are proposed outside the town and how/where will allocations be made?” And, “Given the size and sustainability of Dilton Marsh why are no allocations proposed, or sites identified for further assessment?”
Chris Roe, spatial planning manager said, “The council is focusing on the main settlements in Wiltshire – principle settlements [Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury] and market towns. We are also consulting with rural communities – national policy requires us to set housing requirements.
“We’ve provided housing numbers for lower order settlements, such as Bratton and Dilton Marsh, with a housing requirement that we look for them to deliver through a neighbourhood plan, should they wish to.”
Following a question by town councillor Ian Cunningham, Jeff Winslow told the meeting the team would endeavour to “push developers hard” to incorporate features of Westbury’s existing built environment in their planning applications, so that new properties fit the local landscape.
A question was also asked about whether the Hawkeridge Park employment site could be released for housing, to which Jeff Winslow replied, “It’s unfortunate at this stage that the marketing for the site hasn’t taken legs. There’s an expectation that we keep employment sites under review.
“We need to review whether the expectations we set out are up to date, especially with the likes of Covid and Brexit – it’s the sort of thing we anticipate the consultation will help us with.”
Town councillor Jane Russ asked, “Will agreed infrastructure items such as the bridge over the railway be completed before any further building is undertaken? Building anything and not looking at more basic issues is inappropriate. How can you talk about improvement of air quality and be looking at building an incinerator in the town?”
Jeff Winslow replied, “We were looking to bridge the railway in the Core Strategy and we are still looking to deliver that. Any bridge needs to be safe. We will be looking through the Local Plan and reviewing existing policies to make a contribution.”
For information on the plan and consultation, which is open until March 9th, go to the council’s website, www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planning-policy-local-plan-review-consultation
Comments can be submitted via the online link, by emailing spatialplanningpolicy@wiltshire.gov.uk or in writing by post to Spatial Planning, Economic Development and Planning, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JQ.
People with no internet access can contact the spatial planning officers on 0300 456 0100 for help with hard copies.
Comments received will help shape the draft Local Plan, which will be prepared for consultation later this year.
