Over 100 residents turned out to a recent town council meeting to voice objections to two planning applications for new homes in Warminster.
Warminster Town Council’s Planning Advisory Committee met on Monday 16th February, where councillors discussed plans for 77 homes at Ashley Coombe and 205 homes at Westbury Road.
A total of 110 residents attended the meeting, with the council opening the adjoining room to accommodate the crowd, while others stood outside the doorway to follow proceedings.
77 homes at Ashley Coomb
Town councillors unanimously objected to a planning application for homes on land off Ashley Coombe, on Warminster’s southern edge, echoing strong concerns from local residents.
At the meeting, one resident said, “The application is poorly written, and there are factual inaccuracies and glaring omissions.
“Ashley Coombe was rejected by the Neighbourhood Plan Working Group for good reasons.”
Another resident highlighted access and road safety issues. Access to the site would be via Ashley Coombe and Ashley Place. The resident said, “Residents have already experienced near misses due to blind bends and parallel parking cars. Any additional traffic would increase that risk. With only one way in and out, residents have already seen emergency access constrained during the field fire last summer.”
Residents also raised concerns over proximity to the sewage works and the biogas digester.
“There have been 66 odour complaints in 2025 alone, with 182 in the past three years with no sign of the situation improving,” one resident said.
Other concerns included noise and light pollution, environmental impacts on the River Wylye, flood risk, potential harm to heritage sites, and the site’s location outside the Warminster settlement boundary.
Councillor Barry Pirie, Wiltshire Councillor for Warminster Broadway, said, “This is a development in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and without the evidence required to justify such a significant departure from the adopted plan, it conflicts with multiple Core Strategy policies, fails to meet national planning requirements, and does not deliver sustainable development for Warminster.”
Councillors also raised issues over housing design, biodiversity, lack of public art and quality open space, and uncertainty due to the outline nature of the application.
205 homes at Westbury Road
Town councillors maintained their strong opposition to a new planning application for more than 200 homes on land west of Westbury Road, after a previous application was thrown out at a planning appeal.
Concerns had previously been raised about the Barratt Homes application over flooding, sewage management, public safety and the potential impact on the town’s character.
However, residents and councillors suggested at the meeting that the new plan does not sufficiently address the flooding issues, which were the grounds on which the planning inspector rejected the previous application.
Councillor Bill Parks, who represented residents and town councillors at the Public Inquiry for the previous application in October 2024, voiced his concerns at the meeting.
He said, “There has been no attempt made by the applicant to consult with the local community on this new planning application. This is a fundamental requirement.
“This development, if approved, will impact a large number of local residents. It is without a doubt an underhand approach to try to get such an application without appropriate consultation.”
Other residents spoke at the meeting, highlighting concerns about access, the site being outside the settlement boundary, traffic problems, increased flood risk, and that Warminster does not require the number of four-bed homes being proposed.
Councillor Philip Keeble, chair of the committee, said, “The Westbury Road application has been unanimously rejected for numerous planning reasons, not least around flooding and flood management, which have still not been properly addressed.
“It was good to be able to listen to the concerns and comments of the residents and, together with our own research and knowledge of the sites, form a position supported by sound planning reasons to present to Wiltshire Council.”
Objections
The objections to both applications will now be submitted to Wiltshire Council for decision. Comments from Warminster Town Council are advisory. A decision on both applications is expected by mid-April.
