Members of the eastern area planning committee, who meet on August 6 in the Corn Exchange, Devizes, are set to approve plans for 123 homes near Quakers Walk.

The committee is recommended to delegate approval for the homes to the area development manager once community contributions and other details are ironed out.

Protest to the plan has come from Devizes Town Council and both Bishops Cannings and Roundway Parish Council. The meeting starts at 6pm next Thursday.

The society of Merchant Venturers wants permission to build a second phase of houses on land off London Road despite fears about traffic chaos, sewerage and rare bats.

A report to the eastern area planning committee says that as the site falls within an area allocated in Wiltshire Council’s core strategy for development, and a previous planning application for a care village was approved, the new scheme should be allowed.

The report states: “There is therefore no objection to the principle of the development. Furthermore, the proposal would provide much-needed affordable housing.

“Although the development would generate more traffic than the Care Village scheme, the percentage change in traffic flow along London Road would not be significant when compared to the authorised care village and the highway authority raises no objection.

“The magnitude of the increase is not considered to be material and a refusal of planning permission on highway grounds is not justifiable.”

Devizes Town Council, Roundway Parish Council and Bishops Cannings Parish Council all objected to the proposal along with nearby Devizes Sports Club, which is home to rugby, cricket and tennis.

Roundway council said in its objection: “The proposal is an overdevelopment. There will be an unacceptable impact on wildlife, notably badgers and bats.

“The development poses risks to both surface water flooding and foul water drainage problems.

“The only vehicular access to the site is through a junction to London Road which already suffers unacceptable peak hour congestion. The traffic forecasts provided with the application significantly underestimate the number of additional vehicle movements which it will generate.”

The planning meeting comes at a time when motorists are being left frustrated by long tail-backs on London Road due to roadworks caused by the laying of new gas pipes.

If permission is given developers will have to pay for an extension to Trinity Primary School and for improvements to the Quakers Walk footpath and the canal towpath.

It is estimated that the development would mean an extra 35 primary school places would be needed and so would look for a contribution of £594,265 towards the school expansion.

The committee is recommended to delegate approval for the homes to the area development manager once the contributions and other details are ironed out.