Environmental campaigners are celebrating after controversial plans for new houses in Warminster were withdrawn following a five-year battle.
The Sustainable Warminster group says it is “delighted” that outline plans for 28 new homes at Damask Way have been withdrawn by the developer Backhouse Homes (Warminster) Ltd.
The company had submitted a revised application to build the new homes on land east of Damask Way and east of Upper Marsh Road and north of Smallbrook Lane with all matters reserved except for a new access road proposed off Upper Marsh Road.
But the company’s application was closed on May 24 and a separate application for the steep entrance route was refused by Wiltshire Council in July 2022.
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.”
Harriet James, of Sustainable Warminster, said: “"Sustainable Warminster continue to oppose any building on this site which lies between the Smallbrook Meadows Nature Reserve and the River Wylye SSSI and Special Area of Conservation.
“The group opposes building because of the unacceptable impact of sewage and surface water run-off on the River Wylye, which is an internationally important chalk stream which is already in poor condition requiring improvement, and the landscape impact of housing on an elevated site.”
The group also objected to the impact of the proposals on biodiversity and the site's importance as a dark wildlife corridor for protected species such as bats, toads and rare insects recorded there.
Grass snakes, which are also protected by law, have also been recorded there in recent weeks.
Clare Hancock, of Sustainable Warminster, added: “We walked up there to celebrate the most fantastic news that the proposed development of this stunningly important land has been withdrawn.
“The biodiversity here is amazing and it is crucial it is kept this way for future generations.”
Sustainable Warminster said the new homes would impact local wildlife, particularly a badgers sett on the proposed development site. The area is also colonised by Lesser Horseshoe and Barbastelle bats.
The group also said the developers had omitted any references to the badger sett and had not submitted a full ecological impact assessment survey.
Hundreds of residents had objected strongly to the proposed development after the plans were first lodged in December 2017 by a previous applicant.
Residents said the development would lead to the loss of wildlife, an increase in traffic, a rise in light pollution, loss of trees, and that it was too close to the Smallbrook Meadows Nature Reserve and the River Avon Site of Special Scientific Interest.
They also said it would have an impact on the local landscape, including Cranbourne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Warminster Town Council also objected strongly to the scheme, saying it had not been allocated for housing in the Wiltshire Housing Site Allocation Plan, and on environmental/ecological and highways grounds.
It said: “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 used the route from Kingsdown School to their homes in the west side of Warminster.”
Wiltshire Council ward member Cllr Anthony Jackson called in the plans to prevent officers from deciding on the scheme.
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