By Local Democracy Reporter Peter Davison
Proposals for a new housing estate next to a Warminster nature reserve have been submitted – with nearly twice as many houses as a scheme that was dropped in 2023.
Backhouse Housing wants to build 49 homes at Damask Way, on the south-eastern edge of the town.
Planning permission for 28 homes on the same 3.5-hectare site was granted to a separate developer in 2019.
And in 2022, Backhouse lodged, then withdrew, a planning application for housing, which was fiercely opposed by residents.
Now, the developer wants to build a range of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom houses, with 30 per cent designated ‘affordable’.
Access to the estate would be via Upper Marsh Road, which was the access approved for the previous development.
Small Brook Meadows Local Nature Reserve is located immediately north of the site.
Dedicated ecological areas for mitigation and enhancement have been included within the development to positively contribute towards Biodiversity Net Gain, says the developer.
Back in 2023, environmental campaigners celebrated after Backhouse’s proposal for 28 homes was withdrawn.
Sustainable Warminster opposed development so close to the nature reserve and the River Wylye SSSI and Special Area of Conservation. The group said the site is an important habitat for badgers, Lesser Horseshoe and Barbastelle bats, and grass snakes.
Warminster Town Council also objected strongly to the scheme, saying, “The access point for this site would be disastrous.
“This section of Upper Marsh Road is narrow with no footpath and leads on to a narrow country road that is prone to flooding and often has to be closed. Run-off water from the site would exacerbate the problem.
“Upper Marsh Road at the point where the access road leaves the development site is narrow with no safe passing areas until the junction with Lower Marsh Road.
“The road is used by cyclists and walkers including school children, who use the route from Kingsdown School to their homes in the west side of Warminster.”
At the time, a spokesperson for Backhouse said, “We took the decision to withdraw the application and we can’t comment further at this time on that, but we will be looking at our options in due course.”
The planning application can be viewed on Wiltshire Council’s planning portal under reference PL/2026/03045, with consultation open until 10th July.
A decision on the new scheme is expected in September.
