Outrage as government overrides local decision with 300-home approval

Residents have reacted with anger to the government’s decision to approve up to 300 new homes on a site not allocated for housing in Melksham’s Neighbourhood Plan, overturning a decision made by local councillors

The Secretary of State has allowed a developer appeal for new homes at Snarlton Farm, east of Eastern Way, overturning Wiltshire Council’s decision to refuse the scheme.

Residents have questioned what the point of a Neighbourhood Plan is if developments which conflict with it can still be approved, with one describing the decision as an “outrage” and another calling it “appalling”.

Appalled

Local councillors and MP Brian Mathew have also raised concerns over the decision.

Cllr Nick Holder, Wiltshire Council member for Bowerhill, said, “I am appalled to see the decision from the Secretary of State. This decision flies in the face of our Neighbourhood Plan, which was voted on by local residents.

Serious questions

“Residents took part in that process because they wanted a say in where and how housing development takes place, and it raises serious questions about what the purpose of a Neighbourhood Plan is if those decisions can then be overridden.”

The Joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan 2 was formally adopted last August after 88% of voters backed it in a local referendum.

Wiltshire Council’s Strategic Planning Committee refused the Snarlton Farm application the following day, but the developer appealed and the case was referred to the Secretary of State.

During a four-day public inquiry in January, around 20 residents, councillors and community representatives spoke against the development, raising concerns over traffic, infrastructure, the landscape, loss of agricultural land and the precedent it could set.

MP Brian Mathew has written to Housing Secretary Angela Rayner calling for a meeting over the decision.

In his letter, the MP said, “I was disappointed to see that planning permission had been granted for the development of 300 properties in Melksham Without Parish at Snarlton Farm, a decision which runs directly counter to the Joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan.

“Understandably, this leads my constituents to question what influence neighbourhood plans can realistically have on future development.

“I recognise the pressing national need to increase housing supply and I am not suggesting that Melksham should be exempt from playing its part.

“Melksham has shouldered, and continues to shoulder, its fair share of housing development in recent years.”

In a decision letter approving the housing plans dated 28th July, the Secretary of State said the council’s current housing figures are out of date, noting that Wiltshire Council’s Local Plan, which sets out where development takes place across the county, has been withdrawn.

The Secretary of State said there was a “high level of uncertainty regarding the housing requirement for Melksham.” As a result, the Neighbourhood Plan was given “limited weight” when deciding whether to approve the 300 homes.

Cllr Holder also criticised the withdrawal of Wiltshire Council’s Local Plan. He said, “It also highlights fully the ill-considered decision of the current Wiltshire Council administration in withdrawing the local plan. In my view the Secretary of State has shown that they do not care in the slightest for the views of local residents, but will be more than happy to add these numbers to a poster showing that this government have built more houses.”

However, Cllr David Pafford, spokesperson for the Joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan, said the decision did not mean the Neighbourhood Plan had been set aside.

He said, “Whilst the appeal decision has allowed this particular development to proceed, it does not mean the Joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan has been set aside. The Neighbourhood Plan continues to contain 21 planning policies and the continued existence of the Neighbourhood Plan also has tangible benefits for local communities. We expect Wiltshire Council to continue to uphold the principles of the Neighbourhood Plan.”