Residents in Calne have welcomed Wiltshire Council’s decision to go to the High Court in an attempt to get planning permission for 350 new homes overturned.

The developer Robert Hitchins Ltd gained permission on appeal from a Government inspector in January to build on greenfield land off Sandpit Road in Calne Marsh, despite objections from residents, the council and the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

Wiltshire Council is now seeking to have the planning permission quashed and the matter reconsidered. But the developer has asked that the High Court judge strikes out the council’s challenge, arguing that the inspector’s decision was scrupulously rational and should not be interfered with.

Residents set up a group, called Save Calne Marsh, when the plans were first announced and members say they are pleased with the council’s challenge.

Campaign group member Philip Wrenn said: “The group supports Calne Town Council, the CPRE, and Wiltshire Council in opposing this development.

“Save Calne Marsh Group have taken a sample of feeling of the people of Calne.

“The general feeling is against a speculative greenfield development, which will not contribute anything to the town, and will only serve to burden the already overstretched infrastructure of the town.

“Calne needs more school places, medical facilities, big name shop choice, employment and relief roads, to meet the current needs of the town, before further development should even be considered.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said it believes there are sufficient legal grounds to overturn the decision. He said: “We had refused planning permission as the site is in the countryside and outside the boundary of where development is acceptable. National planning policy is not in favour of such development and the proposal is in advance of the adoption of the Wiltshire Core Strategy, which will map out future development within Wiltshire.

“The inspector considered that the development was appropriate to meet the housing needs of the community. We are challenging this view, as we consider we can demonstrate an adequate supply of suitable housing.”

However, Robert Hitchins’ barrister, Anthony Crean QC, described the council’s case as ‘wholly without merit’. He said: “Allowing this hopeless litigation to continue will involve an unwarranted waste of time and resource and the delay involved in considering this litigation is causing significant harm and prejudice to the community.”