The following planning decisions, applications and appeals have been made in Wiltshire, recently:

20/07334/OUT: An appeal has been launched over Wiltshire Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for 50 houses in Melksham.

Developer, Terra Strategic, submitted outline plans to build 50 houses on land west of Semington Road.

In the plans it was proposed that Terra would offer one to four bedroom homes for market and for shared ownership, and affordable rent.

In turning down the bid, planning officers said that the proposed development was outside of the build limit in its own core strategy.

“The proposal conflicts with the Council's plan-led approach to the delivery of new housing sites outside of the identified limits of development,” they said.

“The proposal would create a large block of housing isolated from other development by surrounding fields. It would result in a significant closing of the gap between Melksham and Berryfield which have separate identities that need to be maintained. The urbanising effect on this area of open countryside and the rural footpaths/roads nearby would have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the area.”

Officers added that the plans did not deliver the necessary infrastructure needed to lessen its impact on the area.

No date or time has been given for the appeal currently.

Those interested in commenting on the appeal must contact the inspectorate by Tuesday, December 14, 2021.

20/10982/FUL: Plans to build a car shelter have been dismissed at appeal.

Claudia Businaro of Old Deweys, High Street in Tisbury wanted to build an open wooden car shelter with stairs and balcony.

Claudia’s plans were, however, knocked back by Wiltshire Council earlier this year.

Planning officers said: “The structure, due to a combination of its close proximity and juxtaposition with the adjacent dwellings and amenity areas; its incongruous design, and its elevated nature, results in harm to existing residential amenities due to the loss of privacy and general noise and disturbance, and fails to respect the existing character and appearance of the Tisbury Conservation Area.”

An appeal against the decision was then launched which has now been dismissed.

Claudia put to the inspector that dismissing the plans would “Interference with her rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights”.

The inspector, in their decision wrote: “However, having regard to the legitimate and well-established planning policy aims to protect the living conditions of occupants at neighbouring dwelling houses, in this case I consider that greater weight attaches to the public interest.

“Dismissal of the appeal is therefore necessary and proportionate, and it would not result in a violation of the human rights of the appellant.”

PL/2021/06227: A bid to build an extension has been approved by Wiltshire Council.

Fran Oats of 9 Bishopsfield, Cricklade has won planning permission after they submitted plans to build a single-storey extension to the front of her house.

20/11468/REM: The council has approved reserved matters plans for nearly 40 houses in Chippenham.

BDW Trading has been granted planning permission for its plans to build 37 houses in north Chippenham on Hill Corner Road, west of the A350.

The town council lodged no objection to the plans, however the plans were not without opposition.

Residents, Chris and Deana Box said: “It is worrying that we have suffered problems with underfloor heating pipes leaking requiring a total revamp of the central heating system; roof tiles along ridge slipping and falling; new cracks appearing in structure and masonry falling from roof. We have lived here since 1981 and problems have all occurred all since work started in 2018.

“Now we face the prospect of more major ground changes with this application. The water table is very high with old ditches piped underground in the late 1980’s to enlarge the fields and any further extensive drainage would be worrying for both Barrow Farm and Barrow Cottage buildings.

"The current developers have experienced expensive problems with drainage.”