WESTBURY Town Council has raised objections over plans that would see the demolition of Michael Elkins Ltd in Westbury Leigh and the erection of nine dwellings and associated works. Councillors say that the plans do not fit in with the emerging neighbourhood plan, loss of local employment, and it would not provide the town with the necessary affordable housing.
Westbury Town Council originally objected to the previous application submitted by the car sales and repair business, over issues surrounding access to the site. The applicant has subsequently amended their plans, but the town council has raised objections again.
In a meeting of the highways, planning and development committee of the town council, held on 20th December, cllr Gordon King said, “This plan fails the test contained in Westbury’s emerging neighbourhood plan draft policy.
“It does not deliver a sufficiently high quality of building by design which strengthens the local distinctiveness and completely ignores or preserves any of its former use as a light industrial, engineering, and commercial uses. All of which will be lost.
“The site by its current size and configuration is incapable of contribution to Westbury’s obvious need for social or affordable housing as identified by the ACOM housing needs assessment.”
Cllr King added, “In addition, we note with concern the apparent lack of a plan to achieve ‘net gain’ in biodiversity or even the protection of existing tree cover along the boundary of the site.
“We believe that the applicant should be required to provide proposals to demonstrate the effects of traffic they will generate and will cause to the local highway network.
“On these grounds, and grounds already communicated, this council strongly objects.”
