‘It’s still a no from us’, say parish council and villagers to plan for up to 150 houses in Beanacre

RESIDENTS and local parish councillors have stood firm in their objection to plans to build up to 150 houses on land to the north of the town. 

Revised plans for a housing development on land west of the A350 (Beanacre Road) and North of Dunch Lane, were recently submitted to Wiltshire Council – the plans propose a reduction in the number of houses, down to 142, and changes to the layout of the site; which are believed to have been made in response to recent ecological surveys carried out on the area. But whilst the new layout of the site proposes 142 houses, the developer’s application still proposes ‘up to 150’ house. 

The plans were originally submitted last year, with both Melksham councils objecting to the plans, but Wiltshire Council had yet to make a decision on the submission.  

Melksham Without Parish Council resolved to object again to the plans at a recent planning committee meeting, reaffirming their belief that the development is ‘unsustainable’. 

They raised several concerns about the plans, including the loss of the ‘green buffer’ between Beanacre and Melksham, and its potential to create coalescence between the village and the town ; the lack of primary and secondary school places to support the site; the site’s potential to negatively impact traffic flow in the area; the lack of safe pedestrian access to the site; its impact on ‘already overstretched’ GP services within the town; and its impact on biodiversity and ecology in the area, noting that bats and great crested newts have been spotted in the area. 

The parish council has also drawn attention to Melksham’s Joint Neighbourhood Plan, which protects the community area from ‘unsustainable development’; and have highlighted that the Melksham community area has met its current housing target. 

They also said that they are ‘disappointed’ that no play area has been proposed as part of the development. 

Beanacre residents also voiced their concerns at the meeting. They spoke about the site’s potential to cause flooding in the area. They said, “The site is central to water dispersal during wet weather and often floods.  There is a high water table in this area, often taking quite a while for water to disperse.  If this site is built on, there is a concern water will be displaced and flood areas elsewhere in Beanacre.” 

Residents also highlighted that the revised plans appear not to address concerns previously raised with regard to the current lack of infrastructure, such as doctors and school places and the impact on the A350 and safety concerns accessing/exiting the site. 

Concerns were also raised about the site’s impact on heritage buildings in the area, and the development’s proximity to the railway line, which residents said is ‘getting busier’ and could pose a safety risk to residents using an unmanned crossing to access the play area in Dunch Lane or Shurnhold Fields. 

Melksham Town Council, who objected to the plans last year, were due to discuss their response to the revised plans at their economic development and planning committee meeting this week. 

The deadline for comments on the application has now passed.