A controversial application to build 71 homes in Malmesbury could be ‘called in’ by the secretary of state.

The secretary of state for housing, Robert Jenrick has been asked to consider using his power to review a planning application by Gleeson Homes on land south of Filands in Malmesbury.

The application to build 71 homes was approved by Wiltshire Council’s Strategic Planning Committee on Wednesday, May 27 which saw dozens of local residents and Malmesbury Town Council object to the plans, as the development sits outside of the historic town’s Neighbourhood Plan.

Cllr Gavin Grant, who represents ward said: "It is vital that residents join me and our Town Council now in urging the secretary of state to call in this totally inappropriate planning approval for independent review.

“I am confident ‎that any independent review would recognise that Malmesbury is more than meeting our share of new houses and our schools, health centre and town simply cannot cope with yet more.

"That is why our Neighbourhood Plan rejected this site and why Gleeson's application to build on it has been thrown out before. Now it needs to be thrown out again‎."

Wiltshire Council has been notified that the secretary of state is considering ‘calling in’ the plans and has formally suspended the process of granting the application.

The suspension will stay in place until a decision is made on whether the secretary of state will review the plans.

If this power is not exercised, the suspension will be lifted and the permission for the development will be granted.

Cllr Toby Sturgis, cabinet member for planning, said: “At the recent Strategic Planning Committee, the application for up to 71 homes at land south of Filands in Malmesbury was granted outline permission, on the condition of the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement to secure the necessary affordable housing and financial contributions to mitigate the impact of the development.

“We will await the decision of the secretary of state on whether the application is called in.

“During this period, we will continue to progress the Section 106 legal agreement so the decision can be issued if the Secretary of State confirms that the application will not be called in.”