GAZETTE & HERALD: Developer George Wimpey has been given the go-ahead to build 44 homes on land at Englands, off Pewsham Way, Chippenham.

Residents living close to the site complained the developers had pulled out bramble hedges behind their homes, which had reduced security and members of North Wiltshire District Council's development control committee agreed to ask Wimpey to put up a fence until new hedge planting took effect.

Outline plans were approved in October and the plans before the committee on Wednesday last week concerned the siting, design, appearance, access and landscaping.

Neighbours sent in 27 letters of objection, complaining the new estate would lead to increased traffic, loss of wildlife, open space and privacy.

The site was owned by the Borough Lands charity and had been intended as additional playing fields for Charter School.

Planning permission was granted with a legal agreement in which the Borough Lands agreed to contribute towards extensions for the school and affordable housing.

Earlier detailed plans were rejected because of the layout and the location of all affordable housing in one area.

But officers are now happy the new plans break up the 13 affordable housing units into two blocks and a wide range of housing types and sizes are proposed.