It’s win for Melksham’s Neighbourhood Plan as 210 houses refused

THE refusal of 210 houses and a 70-bed care home for land off Western Way in Bowerhill, is being applauded by Melksham town and parish councillors, who have sited the Neighbourhood Plan as a key factor in Wiltshire Council’s refusal.

The planning application was made at the end of last year and was met with considerable objection from Melksham Town Council and Melksham Without Parish Council. They shared concerns that the new houses would lose the green buffer between the Melksham and Bowerhill communities; and that local infrastructure, including GP surgeries, schools, roads and NHS provision, is insufficient to cope with the extra houses.

Chair of the Melksham Without Parish Council, cllr John Glover said, “We are delighted to hear the news that this application for speculative development has been refused again by Wiltshire Council. The parish council have had objections to residential development at this site due to its poor access, eroding the rural buffer/green gap between Melksham and Bowerhill and the impact that being adjacent to the busy industrial estate will have on any residents that would move in.

“Its poor access would be compounded by the number of vehicles accessing the proposed development, as the plans included a 70-bed care home too, which would have an additional burden of staff and visitors accessing the home, as well as medical staff including ambulances.”

Melksham’s Neighbourhood Plan was established to protect the town’s green spaces and to enable local people to have their say on new developments.

Cllr John Glover said, “The Melksham Neighbourhood Plan policies have been instrumental in the decision made by Wiltshire Council, and it is ensuring that future development in the Melksham area is plan led, and not developer led.

“Whilst it is government policy that dictates housing numbers to Wiltshire Council who in turn allocate a proportion of that growth amongst the towns and large villages, using a Neighbourhood Plan is the way that local people can have a say and influence what the development in their area looks like, and what it brings with it.”

Chair of Melksham Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, councillor David Pafford, said, “We have worked hard to get a Neighbourhood Plan that local people voted to bring into legal force and it’s heartening to see that it’s a living document that the Wiltshire Council planners are using to make decisions about large planning applications in the area.

“It’s reinforced our view that it is so important to the keep our Neighbourhood Plan bang up-to-date; this is an important document and we need to respond to a changing context and make sure that our Plan remains as strong as possible.  Our Neighbourhood Plan is a powerful document which will ensure that any development in Melksham is plan led, comes with the correct infrastructure and complements the vitality and sustainability of our community.”

Melksham South ward councillor and vice chair of the Melksham Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, cllr Graham Ellis said, “I am delighted that plans for 210 homes and a 70-bed care home just across the road from Melksham town have been turned down. We are in need of additional housing, but it needs to be built in line with neighbourhood and county plans, providing enhanced and integrated infrastructure as part of project for both current residents and business as well as new ones we look forward to welcoming.

“This decision shows the value of our current Neighbourhood Plan. House building companies are businesses looking to maximise their profit and without such active plans will build unguided towards that objective.  On the other hand, with such an active plan, the developers are guided towards building in line with Melksham and county plans to the benefit of ensuring the new housing fits in properly.

“These days, Melksham Without Parish Council and Melksham Town Council meet ahead of application with house builders so that we can help each other tune plans in partnership to fit in with the design codes and our future plans to help Melksham continue to be a town that people want to live in.”

Pictured: The land off Western Way