BRINKWORTH residents who want to build their own homes because of rising house prices will have to wait a bit longer to find out if they can go-ahead with their plans.

A group called the Shenley Brook Self-build Association wants to build 14 affordable homes on land at School Hill.

Planners at North Wiltshire District Council had recommended the scheme for refusal but a majority of councillors want it to go ahead.

However, they were unable to approve it after planning officers told last night's meeting they had not placed advertisements in the local press to inform the public of the plans. A decision was adjourned.

The site is outside the settlement framework of Brinkworth and, under planning terms, is considered open countryside.

Development on such a site can only be justified if it is affordable housing. But planners from the district council do not place self-build schemes in that category.

However families argue that the project is the only way they can afford to stay in the village with which they have a long association.

Chris Walton, the group's chairman, said: "We can only afford to build our own houses because the land is cheaper. It is agricultural land and not in the Brinkworth development area.

"So we could build homes for £50,000 to £60,000 instead of buying one for £150,000.

"It's terrible. The prices run away from you. If you want to continue living in the village you can't get on the ladder.

"Our association with the village has been very strong. Some of the people have been living here for generations.

"The officers recommended they refuse it on many aspects.

"They do not recognise self-build as being affordable housing. They think that we will build them and then sell them for a profit.

"But we just want to live in them and when we don't need them anymore, like someone dies or moves on then they can be re-sold in the community with a perpetuity discount."

Alison James, 33, is a group member and says the self-build scheme is the only way her family can get on the property ladder.

She, as well as her husband Tim and their two boys, William, six, and George, three, are living with Alison's father in Lea.

She said: "Tim and I both grew up in the village. We went to school there and Tim's parents still live there.

"We just can't afford a house and we don't want to move to Swindon. If we want a three-bedroom cottage we are looking at £230,000.

"We are stuck in the middle. Tim earns too much to be eligible for council housing, but we can't afford to buy."