RESIDENTS are shocked and angry that six homes will be built on a field in Chippenham, which they argue will damage wildlife and mean the new houses are covering roots of Japanese knotweed, a pervasive and invasive plant which is difficult to kill off.

The application by Wainhomes will see six houses built on Baydons Lane, after a decision was previously deferred on October 26, 2016, so that an assessment could be undertaken on the Japanese knotweed.

Approval was granted by Wiltshire councillors last Wednesday, to the anger of residents who live near the field and volunteer to help protect the wildlife in the adjoining wood and meadow.

Michael Sammes, a volunteer with the Baydons Meadow Wildlife Group, said: “Like many people living in the area, I’m very angry.

“If I lived the other side of Chippenham I would still be against it, it’s the wrong development in the wrong place.

“These homes will be built on a piece of land which is adjacent to the meadow and wood which are wildlife sensitive areas and for this reason for more 20 years we’ve been trying to prevent development on this land.

“The biggest issue from my point of view is the site is well established with Japanese knotweed, which has been there for at least 12 years and it takes between four and five years to treat.”

In a report prepared for the planning meeting last week by Wiltshire Council, it stated that the “knotweed will need to be removed by a specialist contractor” and that no development will take place until “a detailed method statement for the removal/eradication of Japanese knotweed on the site has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority”.

Japanese knotweed is an invasive species which can damage concrete foundations, buildings and retaining walls.

Ian Roach, planning manager for Wainhomes, said: “We’re very pleased that the planning committee has granted planning subject to a section 106 agreement, which is a formality.

“As for the Japanese knotweed, it is prevalent throughout the English countryside and we do have some on our site but we have had that surveyed.

“We have a number of options to deal with that and some are quicker than others.

“One option is to dig it up and another option is chemical treatment but we are absolutely confident that it can be dealt with.”