More houses, better infrastructure and more employment sites for Melksham, says Wiltshire Council’s Local Plan

Wiltshire Council’s latest Local Plan proposals could see a further 1,170 houses built in Melksham up to 2038, with a focus also on improving the town’s infrastructure, improving transport links and providing new sites for employment.

The plan for Wiltshire will set out the vision and framework for housing, infrastructure and land for employment growth for the next 15 years. Once adopted, all planning applications will be determined against the plan, making it the most important place-shaping document for Wiltshire.

The latest draft of the Local Plan follows an earlier public consultation and Wiltshire Council’s cabinet approved the draft plan last week. The full council will consider the draft plans this week and if approved, a public consultation will commence this autumn.

Infrastructure concerns 

The plan for Melksham raises concerns over adequacy of local infrastructure and says that recent house building needs to be balanced with additional investment in business, services and facilities for the community, with a stronger town centre. It says the A350 is constrained at peak times, leading to traffic congestion, but says the planned bypass is progressing more slowly than envisaged and there is current uncertainty that future funding for the scheme will be available.

A total of 17 sites in Melksham and Bowerhill were looked at for suitability for house building. Out of this 17, three areas have been assessed as the strongest sites for potential development, which are; land east of Melksham; land south of Western Way (land off Bath Road); and land to the north of A3102.

425 homes and new school

 Plans for land to the east of Melksham suggest approximately 425 houses, a primary school a local centre and land for employment. Land off Bath Road could see around 135 houses and allocated space for a Melksham Oak Community School expansion. Land north of A3102 will potentially be for around 285 houses, with land for a 100-place nursery.

Wiltshire Council cabinet member for strategic planning, cllr Nick Botterill, said, “This is an ambitious and sustainable plan that, if approved, will set out both where and how new developments may be built in the county over the next 15 years. It will provide for high quality, sustainable homes and a choice of new employment opportunities in the right locations. This is about meeting Wiltshire’s needs for homes and not building any more new houses than are required.

“This Local Plan is about providing for a choice of high-quality designed housing, including affordable homes, in the most sustainable locations; maximising development on brownfield sites; supporting town centres; and providing high quality new public open spaces.

“This is also the most sustainable Local Plan we’ve ever produced, as all new homes will need to meet zero carbon standards, and there must be a 20% biodiversity net gain for all new developments.

“We recognise that a number of the sites identified for new development may prove contentious in some areas, but these sites have been selected because they are the most sustainable, taking account of the results of previous consultations and the gathering of evidence – and as a local council we are required to provide appropriate sites for housing, employment and other infrastructure.

“In our business plan, we have committed to an updated Local Plan as an effective policy framework for the sustainable growth of Wiltshire that addresses the strategic needs of the county. And if the draft plan passes through both cabinets, and then full council, we will then be consulting with our residents in the autumn.”