FARMERS Colin and Caroline Cary want to build seven homes on a plot of land in a village near Devizes which at the moment is used to graze horses.

The pair have applied to Wiltshire Council to build the homes on land south of Mead Close, Potterne.

The land is allocated as housing land in the neighbourhood plan but it says it is suitable for only five homes.

An objection to the scheme has come from Josephine Matthews who has written to the council to say: "I would like to draw to your attention that Mead Close is a private road and I would like to

object to this planning as we do not want heavy lorries using our road."

In a report planning consultants RCC, acting on behalf of Mr and Mrs Cary of Blounts Court Farm, Coxhill Lane, say: "The site forms part of the wider land holding belonging to Blounts Court Farm and is largely used for the grazing of horses."

The consultants argue that the increase in homes from five to send should be allowed. The report says: "This full planning application seeks to erect seven dwellings on the site: comprising four

two-bedroom dwellings, two three-bedroom dwellings and one four-bedroom dwelling.

"These modestly scaled dwellings reflect the local desire for smaller houses to be constructed within the village.

"The neighbourhood plan refers to the site as being suitable for approximately five new houses and that these should be two-three bedroom properties. This reflects the desire of the plan which is to develop generally smaller and more affordable open market properties for the local community.

"Of seven houses there is only one larger detached house and even this is a modestly sized four-bedroom dwelling. The decision to accommodate seven dwellings on the site was simply made

because the size of the allocated site is such that it would be underutilised if only five came forward."