Concerns over major housing development plans

Concerns have been raised about four major housing developments proposed in Warminster which could bring 466 new homes to the town.

Wiltshire Councillor and Warminster Town Councillor Bill Parks has raised concerns that developers are proposing housing on “unsuitable sites” without investment in necessary infrastructure such as roads, schools and healthcare.

The four applications include 205 homes on land west of Westbury Road, 77 homes at Ashley Coombe, 135 homes at Home Farm and 49 homes at Damask Way, on land adjacent to Smallbrook Meadows Nature Reserve.

Residents have raised concerns about the impact of the proposals on traffic, local services, green spaces and the environment, with opposition being voiced at council meetings.

The Damask Way plans have attracted more than 1,600 signatures to a petition opposing the development, with residents gathering at the site in June carrying placards in protest against the proposed development.

Campaigners say the site is an important wildlife corridor linking Smallbrook Meadows Nature Reserve with the surrounding countryside, and have raised concerns about the impact on biodiversity and nearby chalk streams.

Cllr Parks said, “Together, these proposals would add a further 466 homes to the town, on top of the West Warminster Urban Extension, where planning permission already exists for up to 1,000 homes and construction is underway.”

Cllr Parks said he is not opposed to new housing but is calling for developments to take place in appropriate locations.

“The Government has made clear its intention to deliver very large numbers of new homes, and unfortunately Wiltshire’s housing target has doubled while some other parts of the country have seen reductions,” said Cllr Parks. “Development can bring real benefits when it is planned properly, shaped with community involvement, and supported by investment in local infrastructure.

“Too often, however, we see poorly designed schemes that place additional pressure on roads and public services, leaving communities fighting to protect what they already have.”