Further expansion planned for Melksham

Melksham could be set for further development as two major planning applications have been submitted.

If approved, the town could see 295 houses built on land north of the A3102 at New Road Farm and up to 70 houses built on land off Woodrow Road.

Wiltshire Council has also recently approved a planning application to develop 11 houses on land off Angelica Avenue in Melksham East.

Residents have shared their feedback on the applications, with many raising objections, citing concerns about a lack of infrastructure, the impact on the environment and ecology, and a potential increase in traffic that the developments may bring.

New Road Farm: 295 homes on land north of the A3102

Submitted by Bloor Homes South West, the proposed development could also include a public open space, formal play areas and allotments, with land safeguarded for a nursery.

On the Wiltshire Council planning portal, one resident said, “The proposed scheme is too close to the present scheme at Gladstone Road, whose residents would lose privacy by being overlooked by the new houses. I moved here because of the peace and quiet and the view over the fields, which I and several other residents will lose forever. This really will have an impact on mental health.”

The application was discussed at Melksham Without Parish Council’s planning meeting on Monday, 13th January, where residents attended to share their views.

Chair of the parish council’s planning committee, Cllr Richard Wood, said, “This development is one of the sites earmarked for development anyway, so the parish council cannot object to it, but we can make sure it will be as good as it can be.

“At the planning meeting, we had quite a lot of question marks about the plan. The developer has gone for two entrances to the site. We also have questions around access, the green space, and play areas. We would like people to be able to walk around the development without just walking on the streets. There are issues around a listed farm building. We can’t oppose it, but we have asked our Wiltshire Councillor to call it in.”

The application is due to be decided by 28th February.

70 homes on land off Woodrow Road

An outline planning application submitted by Maypool Estates could see 70 homes built along with open and play spaces.

Residents have also objected to this development, citing concerns about inadequate infrastructure and the ecological and environmental impact it could have.

One resident stated that the development could significantly increase traffic. “Seventy houses will generate 150 to 170 additional vehicles, 200 additional occupants, deliveries, etc. Woodrow and Forest Road will not be able to handle the additional traffic. Access to Woodrow from the site will be very difficult.”

Another resident described the application as “ludicrous,” claiming that the land around the development is a “massive” floodplain and that adding infrastructure would cause “wider issues.”

Melksham Town Council has also objected to the application, stating it does not comply with the Joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan or Wiltshire Council’s Local Plan and is speculative. They argue that the development fails to meet community needs, lacks safe access to schools, doctors, and shops, and would increase reliance on private vehicles due to insufficient public transport. The council has raised concerns about traffic congestion on local roads, particularly through Lacock and Melksham town centre, and highlights the area’s potential as a site for the Melksham Bypass.

Melksham Without Parish Council also objected to the application. Cllr Richard Wood said, “We see this as speculative development. The developer tried to get planning permission for this in 2017, and that was turned down by the council. Now it has come back, but it’s half the size it was before. There are issues with archaeological remains at the site—possibly Roman remains, and maybe even earlier than that.

“The site isn’t ideal. There is an electric pylon that crosses it. The main concern is the issues with dampness and flooding, which are worsening year by year. There is also significant concern about the transport plan they provided, which we felt was very flawed. They don’t seem to understand the situation. Anyone who goes there knows the access is very tight. Even their plans show that you can hardly get a refuse collection vehicle in without it going up on the verges on either side.

“The road is very narrow there, and it could almost certainly become a rat-run into Lacock. We have had many objections from local residents for these reasons, and we certainly did not give it our approval.”

The application is due to be decided by 21st February.