Sandhole Lane development dissected by councillors

PLANS to build 67 houses on land south of Sandhole Lane in Westbury Leigh have come under fire from town councillors, during a presentation last week from representatives of the applicant, Wain Homes.

The Sandhole Lane plans were objected to by local people and Westbury Town Council, and then turned down by Wiltshire Council last year. However, they were approved on appeal in February of this year as a result of Wiltshire not having a five-year housing land supply. The applicant has plans to start construction on the site by next summer. 

A public consultation on the proposals also took place at The Laverton this week, as the White Horse News went to print. 

Details of the proposals were explained to Westbury Town Council’s highway, planning and development committee last week. 

The representative said the applicant is aware that the plans did not receive support from the town council, Wiltshire Council, or the local people and so they want to open a dialogue to listen to any suggestions of amendments to their plans. 

Profit over people?

Cllr Mike Naxton asked about the sustainability of the houses and was told that every unit will have solar panels, electric vehicle charging points, and that there is the potential for heat pumps. 

The proposal consists mainly of three bed houses made up of 60% rent and 40% shared ownership – 30% of the dwellings will be allocated as ‘affordable housing,’ the base level required for developers. 

Speaking on this, cllr Mike Sutton said, “It’s interesting to see the number of four and five bed houses considering Westbury is a place of high deprivation and it has one of the lowest average wages in the country – you’re not catering to the local population, are you? None of these will be affordable on a minimum wage.” 

The representative for the developer said that this information was helpful, but cllr Sutton responded, “It’s not helpful to those who are struggling to get on the housing ladder is it? This is a development for profit at the expense of local people and this will do nothing for local people who cannot afford a four- or five-bedroom house under any circumstances, even worse now given the current economic climate.”

Badger setts

The applicant says that they will submit an application to Natural England to move the badgers that are currently under the land at Sandhole Lane, as asked for by the planning inspector when this application went to appeal, but added that they do not know where they will be moved to. Badgers are a protected species and are not allowed to be moved from December until June. 

Speaking at the meeting, cllr Sheila Kimmins said, “We should write to Natural England and say that we are raising our concern, not only about the potential blocking up of the entrance holes for the badgers, but also the other various wildlife that lives in the area, as a result of this application.” 

Cllr Duncan Hamilton-Sheen added, “We have had a badger expert look at the site and part of the problem is that there are just too many badgers, so if they just move this one badger sett ,they will soon find there’s plenty more in the area. The next field is flooded with badgers and Sandhole Lane itself is an area that is difficult to pass, partly because the badger setts are causing the area to collapse.” 

Access and impact  

Cllr Hamilton-Sheen also asked about access into the site for HGVs during construction, as well as subsequent traffic movements from cars in the estate and the further impact of this on the town. In response he was told that access and highway works will be undertaken before the construction of the estate as a priority. 

Cllr Gordon King added, “Access into the site has always been a contentious issue; it should be from Old Dilton Road and not through the estate. I also think that the houses should be placed at the back of the site and not the front, as it will create a terrible skyline otherwise. During construction, I would like to see no work after lunchtime on a Saturday or on a Sunday, as that alone may cause a headache for residents. My biggest concern is the impact of the already existing estate – the roads are not wide in that area and the gradient up to the site is extremely steep.”

Pictured: the plans for the site.

Pictured: Badger setts at Sandhole Lane.