A PROPOSAL for 70 houses on land south of Sandhole Lane, Westbury Leigh, was presented to Westbury town councillors at a meeting last week.
The presentation was made by members of planning company Origin 3 and land promoting company, Gleeson Strategic Land, to the council’s highways, planning and development committee, on Monday 21st September.
They explained that the plans are to build up to 70 homes of differing sizes, with 30% being delivered as affordable housing. The site, which is currently agricultural land, will also include a play area, kickabout space and an area which could be used as allotments.
Designer Claire Danks who has been appointed by Gleeson Strategic Land to look at the site, explained an outline of the layout.She said that the site for 70 houses is on the edge of Westbury Leigh, off Sandhole Lane, with a trackway/footway/cycle path on its edge. Site access will be from Leighton Park Road which will be extended.
As far as timescale is concerned, a pre-application was presented to Wiltshire Council in August.
It was explained that an online public consultation event was scheduled for Monday 28th September. A leaflet drop to households would also be organised in the surrounding area.
A planning application will then be submitted in November.
Commenting on the access road for the development, cllr Josh Charles, said that in the area where he lives, there is only one road in and out. If the access gets blocked, he said it causes a backlog of traffic. The councillor said he wondered why there is only one point of access to the estate, when it could potentially cause congestion in and out of the estate.
There was consideration as to whether the trackway on the edge of Sandhole Lane could also be used, but Claire Danks explained that the track is only approx 2.5 metres wide and is an overgrown trackway. She said it would not be accessible as a highway, but perhaps could be used if the way from Leighton Park Road was blocked.She said that highways consultants are looking at traffic flows and more information will be available in the planning application.
Cllr Brenda Pyne asked if the company was working with the owners of the site.
Nick Keeley from Gleeson Strategic Land said the land is owned by a private individual and as a land promoter, not a developer, the company is helping to promote the site.
He said, “The plan is work in progress. It will be part of our outline application to Wiltshire Council, who might include conditions of delivery.
Further details regarding the proposals are published on www.sandholelanewestbury.co.uk, and feedback forms are available on the website to invite comments until the consultation closes on Monday 19th October.
In their leaflet to households, Origin 3 and Gleeson Strategic Land say, “We would like to offer the local community the opportunity to view and comment on emerging proposals in advance of any planning application being submitted.
“Please visit our website to find out about the emerging proposals and to provide your feedback: www. sandholelanewestbury.co.uk or contact us via email: consultation@origin3.co.uk or by post at: Origin3 (ref. Sandhole Lane), 23 Westfield Park, Bristol, BS6 6LT
