Wainhomes Severn Valley Ltd has launched an appeal after its development plan was rejected by Wiltshire Council.

The company put in a proposal for 61 houses that would have been constructed in the green space near Brynards Hill in exchange for a country park in Royal Wootton Bassett.

However, 600 objections were submitted to Wiltshire Council in protest of the development.

These came from residents, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council and Network Rail and other organisations and were all submitted during spring 2021.

The council said it refused planning permission for the following reasons.

“The proposal would result in the urbanisation of open rural land and the loss of important local green which would result in harm to the local landscape, recreational opportunities, the character, appearance and visual amenity of the locality.”

“The proposals fail to provide for and include adequate supporting information to demonstrate that the site can be served by a safe and appropriate means of vehicular access, public right of way, retention and management and pedestrian / cycle accessibility within the site.”

Now Wainhomes says it will contest the decision after filing an appeal to the council.

It will be heard by R Pipkin BA (Hons) and MPhil MRTPI and the inquiry will open at 10 am on 28 March 2023. It will be heard over four days.

Outlining why the appeal should take place, Wainhomes say that Wiltshire Council cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land allocation.

This is a legal requirement amongst councils and lack is often damaging to an attempt to prevent development.

In response to the council rejecting the plans based on the loss of important local green infrastructure and open land, Wainhomes says: “As with any greenfield development, the development will be visible and result in the introduction of development, but development is not by default harmful. It is accepted by the council that the site does not fall within a ‘valued’ landscape.

It added the council’s tree officer raised no objection to the application indicating no harm will arise to trees or hedgerows as a result of the proposal.

Additionally, Wainhomes states that several developments were given planning permission by the council to build homes on Brynards Hill and Lower Woodshaw, these were as follows.

  • Erection of 43 residential dwellings with associated roads, sewers, landscaping, parking, garages & associated works – Approved.
  • Construction of 92 Dwellings with Associated Roads, Footways, Parking, Landscaping and Drainage Works

Applications to build 43 residential properties, 100 properties and 50 properties by separate developers were only allowed to be built following an appeal.

Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Development Management and Strategic Planning, said: “We refused planning permission for 61 dwellings, access and open space at Land at Brynards Hill, Royal Wootton Bassett (reference no. 20/11655/FUL) in June.  The applicant, Wainhomes Severn Valley Ltd, has now lodged an appeal against the decision.”

Wainhomes Severn Valley Ltd declined to comment.