LAND and buildings owned by Wiltshire Council but no longer used by the local authority is set to be sold on the open market.

Fields in Sherston is set to be turned into 45 houses and a new doctors surgery for the village.

The newest six sites to be approved also include land behind the Marlborough Depot on Salisbury Road and land next to housing on London Road in Chippenham.

In September 2018 a target was set to make £24.9m from selling 78 assets. The new estimate forecasts £29.6m will be made to be reinvested into the Council work in areas such as children’s services, social care and road improvements.

The land behind Sherston C of E primary school and next to Lower Stanbridge Farm has been earmarked for development through the neighbourhood plan that was recently voted on by villagers.

Now the land has been called surplus by Wiltshire Council, it will be put on the open market.

Cllr John Thomson represents Sherston and said: “The Sherston land at lower farm is a really interesting project with the community, parish council, Wiltshire council and local land owner working together to bring some housing to the area.

“The doctors surgery will be owned by county and then the community.

“One big challenge in rural areas is keeping practises open and I think it is very positive Wiltshire Council is delivering this community facility.

“I welcome it being brought so soon after the neighbourhood plan received a large majority of support.”

Cabinet member for planning cllr Toby Sturgis said: “Sherston neighbourhood plan was one of the front runners and now they have finally finished the race.

“I want to congratulate Sherston on their neighbourhood plan. They’ve now got there and We are able to deliver some land that can be disposed of.

“We thought it might have happened a little quicker but it has finally passed the finished line and can now be adopted.”

Cabinet members authorised the director of housing to dispose of the assets.

The Asset Gateway Group will now meet to decide whether land should be disposed, commercially developed or moved to a land trust or housing revenue account in order to make the most money for the council.

Since 2017, assets have only been sold if Wiltshire Council approve the new plans and they are linked to community objectives such as to create more housing.

The council said that selling off surplus sites is ‘integral’ to the council’s financial planning.