PLANS to build homes at a former dairy farm near Devizes have worried villagers who fear they will create problems on a narrow lane and that the new houses would tower over existing cottages.

Adele Homes and Andrew Fleming Associates want to build seven homes at Malthouse Farm, Rowde but at a public meeting held in the village to explain the scheme only one villager spoke in its favour.

But now a plan has been submitted to Wiltshire Council for the properties. Three would be created from existing farm building and the others would be new builds. One of the homes would be reached from Bunnies Lane and the others from Cock Road.

In a report to the council agents for the developers said that people living in the new houses would support village services and help to maintain the vitality of the rural community.

The report says: "On balance it is considered that the development itself would not result in substantial harm and where some impact is

identified on two local heritage assets these impacts are less than significant and outweighed by the benefits and do not warrant the refusal of the application.

"The development would be in keeping with the character of the surrounding area and would not result in the loss of amenity

to neighbouring properties nor would the dwellings suffer from low levels amenity themselves.

But at a meeting held by the parish council and attended by more than 50 people before the plan was submitted villagers spoke out against the proposal. At this time it was suggested that up to 14 homes with some being self-build units could be created and people pointed that both Bunnies Lane and Cock Lane were narrow and did not have pavements. Villagers also pointed out that drainage was nearing capacity.

The new plan has reduced the number of homes by half and left out the idea of self-build houses. The developer has also spoken about cutting back into the verge to improve a sharp bend in Bunnies Lane where people thought emergency vehicles could face problems and to put in a footpath.