PLANS for 50 houses in Pewsey have been knocked back by Wiltshire Council.

Dunmoore Properties had bid to build 50 affordable homes on land west of Wilcot Road following the demolition of buildings already on the site.

In refusing the application, council planning officers said that the site was in the open countryside which would conflict with the local authority’s housing strategy and the Pewsey neighbourhood plan.

Officers added: “The proposed development of this site will result in a permanent change to the character of the land and its use, resulting in a change from the agricultural/equestrian use and character to that of urban development.

“The development would not conserve nor enhance the existing undeveloped rural character of the site and would have a harmful impact upon local landscape character.”

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According to the housing officer, because the site falls outside of Pewsey and would need to be considered as a “rural exception site” it would need to offer 100 per cent affordable housing with a max size of 10 homes.

In its affordable housing report, Dunmoore said that it had identified the need for such housing in the area.

It noted that no affordable house have been delivered in the Pewsey community area since June 2017 and that only 72 such homes have been built in the area in the last nine years.

It also stated that none of the sites put forward by the neighbourhood plan were capable of delivering affordable homes.

Janine Greaves, who lives near the proposed site, said the plans should not be entertained. She added, like many other objectors, that an increase in traffic and road safety on Wilcot Road was a major concern.

The plans were opposed by the parish council who said that the number of houses was not needed and should not be built in an area of outstanding natural beauty.