‘Unwelcome’ 144 new Berryfield homes gets planning permission

WILTSHIRE Council has granted planning permission for 144 new homes in Berryfield, despite strong objections from local residents and the parish council.

The outline planning application, which has been described as “unwelcome and unnecessary” and “utterly unsustainable”, proposes up to 144 homes on agricultural land between Semington Road and the A350, and to the north of the Hampton Park commercial area.

Villagers living on Semington Road and Shails Lane – which will also border the new development – have raised concerns about the loss of green space and wildlife habitat, the impact of increased traffic to the area, and the town’s already stretched resources.

However, because of Wiltshire Council’s failure to maintain a five-year land supply – which means there is an insufficient number of ‘deliverable sites’ to provide five years’ worth of housing – a majority of councillors at a Wiltshire Council strategic planning committee meeting last week, voted in favour of the development – six voted for the development, and five voted against.

“We are where we are with the five year land supply,” said the chair of the meeting, cllr Fleur de Rhé-Philipe, before explaining that she felt it was “hard to see any absolutely overriding reasons against” the development.

At the meeting, before the decision was made, councillors heard from local residents and representatives from Melksham Without Parish Council.

Reading a statement on behalf of Shails Lane residents and a collection of Semington Road residents, Ryan Jones said that they “unanimously” were against the development.

“The building land is classed as open countryside,” said Ryan. “It’s outside the development boundary, there is a loss to the wildlife habitat, including deer, foxes and newts, the impact on existing town resources, and the increased traffic and danger on Semington Road.”

Ryan went on to explain that residents felt that Melksham had taken on its fair share of housing, exceeding its current housing target, and that the application should not be approved because of Wiltshire Council’s lack of five-year land supply.

Another local resident, Sue Owen, raised concerns about Melksham’s “insufficient infrastructure”, highlighting that schools and GP surgeries are “oversubscribed”. She also warned that 144 new homes could “exacerbate” Semington Road’s ongoing problems with speeding traffic. 

“This is not about caring for the community and its needs,” said Sue about the developer’s proposed financial contributions to the area’s infrastructure, “it’s about making money by building houses in a area that has never been designated for residential development.”

Reiterating Melksham Without Parish Council’s objection, parish clerk Teresa Strange explained that the area was being targeted by developers because of Wiltshire Council’s land supply issues, resulting in “ad-hoc” developments that are “unsustainable”.

“There is no logic in permitting residential development between a commercial area, a sewage treatment works, and a busy A350,” said the parish clerk, who added that the parish council felt that a more appropriate use for the land would be commercial.

Chair of Melksham Without Parish Council, cllr Richard Wood, added that the site was “utterly unsustainable” and raised concerns that it could increase pressure on Melksham Oak Community School, which he explained would be at capacity in three years’ time, despite a new building extension, which is scheduled to open this year.

Cllr Wood’s concern  about the future capacity of Melksham Oak were echoed by cllr Nick Holder in his role as Wiltshire councillor – he is also a parish councillor – who also described the plan as “unwelcome and unnecessary”.

However, Mike Wilmott from Wiltshire Council’s planning department, explained that Wiltshire Council was satisfied that there is capacity at Melksham Oak for the application being considered.

The site’s proximity to the sewage treatment works was also raised as a concern by Wiltshire councillor Sarah Gibson – who also described the plan as being “plonked” into the area without thought. However, Wiltshire Council’s Mike Wilmott explained that the council and Wessex Water were “satisfied” that odour from the plant would not be an issue for residents.