OVER 200 new homes and a primary school could be on the cards for Bowerhill after a developer recently applied for permission to build the new estate on fields between the village and Melksham.
Property developers Mactaggart and Mickel submitted an application on Thursday 4th February to build up to 235 homes and a new primary school with early years provision, on land either side of Pathfinder Way.
The company has been working on plans for the area since 2013, and held a public consultation in April 2014. An application was first submitted in May 2014, for up to 255 homes and retail space.
The application was later withdrawn and replaced with the current one, which proposes fewer homes and a school instead of business premises.
Wiltshire Council is now holding a consultation for members of the public to submit their comments.
Concerns have been raised already about the volume of traffic that would be created, potential for flooding, and the loss of green space between Bowerhill and Melksham.
The developers refute concerns about the loss of a green buffer and say, “Development at The Spa currently provides a physical and visual link between Melksham and Bowerhill, preventing any appreciation of a genuine ‘gap’ between settlements.
“Development of the proposal site, whilst resulting in the loss of farmland and a sense of openness, will not result in any long term further significant coalescence of settlements.”
To see and comment on the full plans enter reference 16/01123/OUT in the planning search at www.wiltshire.gov.uk
