A decision is set to be made on a planning application proposing over 60 homes on the edge of Trowbridge.
In November 2023, Welbeck Strategic Land II LLP applied for outline planning permission to construct up to 66 homes in North Bradley, on land north of Southwick Road and south of The Rank.
The application described the project as “high quality” and said it would provide a “sustainable, safe, and attractive” result.
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Wiltshire Council’s strategic planning committee will determine the application at a meeting on Tuesday, October 22.
The case officer report indicates that the proposal does not comply with the spatial strategy contained in the Wiltshire Core Strategy, but because Wiltshire Council is currently unable to demonstrate a four-year housing land supply, the balance in decision-making is "tilted" in favour of granting planning permission.
The report states: “The application has received support from statutory consultees and this report demonstrates that there are no adverse impact arising from the proposal on the wider landscape, ecology, highways or amenity and has overcome the previous reasons for refusal.
“As detailed above there would be some significant benefits of the proposal with the most important being the contribution to the current limited identified housing need in Wiltshire without causing demonstrable harm.”
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Therefore, the officer’s recommendation is to approve subject to completion of a section 106 agreement.
This is a legal contract between a developer and a local authority that outlines specific obligations the developer must fulfil to make a development project acceptable in planning terms.
The details of this will be discussed at the strategic planning committee’s meeting.
Also on the agenda, is a review of the previously approved 190 homes at Empress Way in Ludgershall.
Although the plans were given the go-ahead in 2022, the section 106 agreement for this application was not fulfilled, which means the council must review the application in light of the recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework.
The applicant, Foreman Homes, has also made some adjustments to the project, which the strategic planning committee will discuss.
Nevertheless, it is expected that the committee will maintain their approval of the plans, subject of course to the completion of the section 106 agreement.
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