Plans for 500 more houses in Melksham East

A NEW planning application has been submitted for 500 houses in Melksham East, on land at Blackmore Farm.

The applicant, Gleeson Land, previously submitted plans for 650 dwellings on the same site last year. Melksham News understands that the new application for 500 homes is to replace the previous application for homes on the land.

The plans, which include land for a primary school, land for a mixed-used hub and open space in addition to 500 houses, have been met with criticism from some members of the community.

Some residents have raised concerns regarding a lack of infrastructure in the town to support more residents, such as a shortage of doctors’ surgeries and school places, and the impact the development would have to the wildlife and environment.

In comments on Wiltshire Council’s planning portal, one resident said, “Please, do not destroy one of the most beautiful areas of Melksham. We do not have the infrastructure to cope and the wildlife will suffer.”

Another resident has also objected to the application due to a lack of public transport links for the area and the impact the development would have on congestion around Sandridge Road.

“Without a filter lane or roundabout at the entrance to the site, it will likely lead to congestion on Sandridge Road for cars turning right into the site and for cars wishing to turn right out of the site,” says the resident.

“The town is already struggling with traffic due to previous poor planning permissions, such as the Aldi and McDonald’s junction; adding likely another 500 cars into this will undoubtedly cause more travel disruption for cars and indeed public transport on not just the west, but also the east of the town.”

Details about the new application for 500 houses can be found on the Wiltshire Council’s planning portal via this reference number PL/2023/11188. The deadline for comments to be submitted is 26th February.