MALMESBURY'S Neighbourhood Plan will be put to the test as Gleeson Developments launch an appeal against Wiltshire Council's decision to refuse 71 houses on a greenfield site in Filands.

Concerns continue to grow in the town the developer launched their appeal for the land south of Filands for 71 houses on February 28, but Councillor Roger Budgen, chairman of the Malmesbury Town Council's planning and environment committee said they knew it was coming.

"We anticipated that Gleeson would appeal the decision but I think the reasons Wiltshire Council refused the plans for were sound," he said. "It is disappointing. I think Gleeson are quite an aggressive developer and I think they find it hard to accept that a community can determine where developments are placed rather than the developers themselves."

More than 50 people wrote letters of objection for the original application but Coun Budgen is looking forward to the fight.

He said: "It would be very difficult to see an inspector overturn a neighbourhood plan that conforms with Wiltshire Council core strategy and the fact the county has a five year land supply.

"When we put the neighbourhood plan together we looked at all the infrastructure services and designed the plan so that the numbers of houses were allocated by the services and we have actually provided just over ten per cent more houses than Wiltshire Council required of us because we wanted to have extra housing for the elderly.

"We look forward to the appeal."

Coun Kim Power, who is part of the Malmesbury Neighbourhood Steering Group, said: "I am extremely disappointed that Wiltshire Council's refusal of the application is now being appealed and I will do my utmost to resist any attempts to undermine the neighbourhood plan."

Although no date, venue or time for the inquiry has been established, residents can make written comments on the proposal to the Planning Inspectorate, Room 3/10b Kite Wing, 2 The Square, Temple Quay House, Bristol, BS1 6PN quoting APP/Y3940/W/17/3168452 by April 10.

Gleeson Developments were contacted for a comment.