Malmesbury Residents Voice Concerns Over Proposed 200-Home Development

Plans for 200 new residential units in a Wiltshire town have provoked discontent among certain local inhabitants. Residents of Malmesbury have expressed their dissatisfaction on social media regarding the planned development for the north-east section of the town, citing worries about its potential strain on current local infrastructure and questioning the necessity of additional housing. Gleeson Land has declared its plan to submit a planning application to Wiltshire Council and has solicited input from area residents beforehand. The developer has committed to providing a varied selection of homes, with 40% designated as affordable housing, stating that the project presents a “positive opportunity to address Wiltshire’s housing needs”. Members of a local Facebook group reacted to a post from another member, which featured an image of a Gleeson Land leaflet requesting comments on the envisioned development, planned for a location between Filands and Whychurch Farm. A resident commented: “Just say nooooooooooooo! We have enough houses, reminder: it’s our town not Gleesons!” Another participant in the group remarked: “We need to get a demand for a surgery. Because it’s getting ridiculous.” Additional concerns were raised regarding the potential effect of construction on the site on the town’s drainage system, particularly after recent flooding last month. The total of 200 homes indicated on the leaflet incorporates 71 residences that have already received approval from an earlier planning submission. The proposed location, identified as Phase 4 in the developer’s leaflet, is slated to feature walking paths and a play area alongside the new residential units. The leaflet urged residents to submit their feedback prior to the company’s submission of a planning application later in the current year. The deadline for responses was 6 December. Wiltshire and Malmesbury Town Councillor Gavin Grant also commented on the social media platform, addressing worries about insufficient planned amenities, stating that if a “big single application had been agreed, the developers would have to have paid towards local services”. He added: “Firms like Gleeson know that, so land is parcelled up for speculative applications for smaller numbers of houses on each estate.” He concluded: “That means our local healthcare needs are not considered and no financial contribution is made.” Councillor Grant further stated that if the application receives approval from the council’s planning officer, he intends to request a comprehensive committee vote on the issue. A representative for Gleeson Land commented: “In line with planning guidelines, we intend to submit a new outline planning application for up to 200 homes on this site, 71 of which already have planning consent. “As well as providing a policy compliant mix of market and affordable housing to meet local needs, this development will meet the council’s infrastructure and green space requirements.”If successful, this scheme will offer a positive opportunity to address Wiltshire’s housing needs in a sustainable location. In turn, this will help the local authority achieve the robust housing targets announced recently by the current government.” For updates, follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story suggestions can be sent via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.