THE Crown Estate has reduced the number of houses it wants to build on greenfield on the edge of Devizes.

In June it submitted a planning application to build up to 260 homes on two fields it owns next to Lay Wood off Horton Road in Bishops Cannings but it has now cut the number by 30.

The change of heart has come about following the discovery of what is thought to be a 2,000-year-old Roman villa on the site and having more landscaping on the eastern edge of the site.

The Crown Estate’s environmental consultants, Amec, argue that there is a shortage of housing supply in Devizes, despite Wiltshire Council refusing permission for 350 houses next to Coate Bridge in September because it said Devizes had more than a five-year supply of housing land.

In the revised plans Amec also believe that a decision by a planning inspector to grant permission for 25 additional houses for Redrow at the former Bureau West site in July, which is next to Lay Wood, aids their case.

Amec says: “...The Inspector found that the council cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of housing land. Very little has changed since this appeal and therefore the land by Lay Wood planning application should be considered favourably.”

It adds that the revised layout offers the opportunity to retain the potential Roman villa in situ.

Devizes Town, Bishops Cannings and Roundway parish councils all objected to the application for 260 houses, saying that future housing development should be spread out on smaller sites. The amended plans will be discussed by Bishops Cannings tonight and Roundway at its meeting on Monday.