Wiltshire Council say another big ‘no’ to new Heywood homes

ANOTHER planning application to build homes to the north of Church Road in Heywood has been refused by Wiltshire Council, after being faced with a resounding ‘no’ from local people.

The application to build four five-bedroom houses  and a three acre wood on the land was rejected following concerns raised by the Woodland Trust, parish council, and an overwhelming objection from villagers.

The application was registered by local company S.P.E Developments in October last year, and the decision to refuse published on Friday 20th February. It is the 18th planning application to be refused for the site in 18 years.

Even after the original plan’s four houses was reduced to three, no objections were withdrawn. Wiltshire Council’s official reasons for refusal included, among others, the inappropriateness of the location  and the extra strain on local amenities and roads.

26 formal responses were recorded from local residents, all strongly objecting to the proposals.

One Heywood resident, Teresa Romang said, “The extra traffic flow of motor vehicles into and out of Church Road and Dursley Road would prove a hazard, not only to the local residents but also to the road users. Exit at either end is already hazardous and any more traffic would increase the possibility of a serious road traffic accident.”

There were also concerns that the houses would affect existing villagers’ quality of life.

Local man Andrew Kerr said, “The proposed development is completely out of keeping with the existing houses and the settlement of Heywood, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book, and will result in an unnecessary and detrimental effect on the village.

“Additionally, the water supply already has quite low pressure at various times during the day, and the electricity supply can  be erratic. Any more demands on these services are bound to have a detrimental effect on the existing villagers.”

Heywood Parish Council submitted a formal objection, as did the Woodland Trust. The trust replied with regards to the three ancient woodlands behind the site; the Round, Clanger, and Pickett woods.

The Woodland Trust’s objection said, “National Planning Policy Framework paragraph 118 states that planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, including ancient woodland and the loss of aged or veteran trees found outside ancient woodland, unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss.”

Their explanation expressed concerns about human damage to animal habitats, pollution and contamination of surface water, and where gardens backed onto the woodland, about trees being cut back by residents or waste being dumped on the land.

A number of residents also commented on the possibility of starting an urban sprawl and shrinking the green belt between Trowbridge and Westbury.

More details of the application and residents’ responses can be found by searching for application 14/09341/FUL on www.wiltshire.gov.uk.