A PLANNING inspector and a Government minister have agreed 123 homes can be built close to the ancient Quakers Walk path in Devizes despite major complaints from objectors.

It was announced today that following a public inquiry inspector Ken Barton and Sajid Javid the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government have decided that the Merchant Venturers should be allowed to build on land off London Road.

The Trust For Devizes tried to stop the plan by saying Wiltshire Council had acted illegally by giving permission for a separate plan for 65 homes to be built on part of the land before the inquiry was concluded.

The appeal report says: "The Secretary of State’s call-in letter of 22 December 2015 directed the Council not to grant planning permission, without specific authorisation, for any development which is the same kind as that which is the subject of the current application, on any land which forms part of, or includes, the site to which the current application relates until the Secretary of State has issued his decision on the current application.

"The Trust for Devizes in their representations asked the Secretary of State to treat that permission as not being a material consideration.

"The Secretary of State considers that the council’s grant of permission for the 65 dwelling scheme may be in conflict with his direction of 22 December 2015, and it is possible that had the permission been challenged, it would have been found to be unlawful.

"However, no challenge has been brought to date, and the permission still stands."

The minister and inspector also both agreed that the plans for 123 homes was sustainable and dismissed arguments put forward that the houses were not part of the neighbourhood plan.

They also threw out worries about the development adding to traffic problems in London Road.

The report says: "The Secretary of State agrees with the conclusion that there would be little adverse impact on safety and the flow of traffic and considers that this does not weigh against the proposal."