Around 20 villagers attended a recent meeting convened by Dilton Marsh Parish Council to share their views on an application to build homes on a cherished green space known locally as the ‘deer field.’
The meeting, held last month at the Memorial Hall, focused on the proposal by Bellway Homes to construct 85 houses on the site following the withdrawal of a previous application for 100 homes earlier this year.
The new application has sparked considerable opposition from local residents who argue that such a development would overwhelm the village’s character, scale and infrastructure. Among their concerns are increased traffic, the loss of green space and the threat to local wildlife, with the field in question being home to deer, bats, owls and other wildlife. Residents also highlighted that the site lies outside the village’s designated development boundary, lacks safe pedestrian access and would undermine the historical and rural landscape of Dilton Marsh.
Following the meeting, Dilton Marsh Parish Council submitted a formal objection, which raised many of these concerns. The council’s submission argues that the development lacks justification given the absence of an identified local housing need, would place undue strain on already limited services and is incompatible with the area’s rural character. They also noted significant concerns about highway safety, potential flood risks and the impact on local wildlife.
Wiltshire Councillor Suzanne Wickham, who was also in attendance, has requested the application be ‘called in’ for review by the planning committee rather than a single case officer. She cited the development’s environmental impact, potential strain on local highways and its proximity to Clivey Sewage Treatment Works as key reasons for this referral.
