Residents have given their verdict on four potential housing sites in the city, including a controversial plan to turn Brown Street car park into housing.

First consultations have taken place, both in person and online, as part of Salisbury City Council’s Neighbourhood Development Plan.

The plans include the possible redevelopment of Quidhampton Quarry (also known as the Imerys quarry) off Wilton Road, which could see up to 400 houses built, turning Brown Street car park into housing, building affordable housing on Coldharbour Lane, and schemes for Churchfields Industrial Estate.

Of all four schemes, the Brown Street plans proved the least popular in the consultations, with 61.9 per cent of online respondents opposed.

The suggestion was for a ‘biophilic’ building providing flats and city centre greenery, possibly with NHS facilities on the ground floor.

Many were worried about a loss of convenient parking, others about the height of any new building.

The suggestion has previously been met with resistance.

Speaking to the Journal in September, Atiqul Hoque, city councillor for St Edmunds and Milford Ward, said: “Loss of parking space in this crucial, well-used car park in heart of town is madness. This proposal certainly doesn’t help Salisbury’s recovery.”

Cllr Richard Clewer, the leader of Wiltshire Council, added that he was “personally concerned about the effect of moving parking which is easily accessible from the south side of the city, which would place a greater strain on the ring road and increased journey times and carbon emissions”.

Read more: 

The other proposals include a 100 per cent affordable housing community aimed at older people who cannot afford to rent elsewhere at Coldharbour Lane, which had 75 per cent of online respondents support it and most people at face-to-face events.

Some raised concerns about flooding or contamination, but the site can only be developed if those are dealt with.

There are three possible schemes for Churchfields Industrial Estate: affordable homes at the old Engine Shed, live/work units and flats at the Stephenson Road depot, and a combination of live/work units, studios and some conventional housing on a site in Lower Road. All the sites belong to Wiltshire Council.

Six out of ten respondents supported these ideas, although many were sceptical about the prospects for change.

At Quidhampton Quarry, 52.3 per cent of people online liked an innovative scheme for 300 to 400 homes, many of them affordable, with a community hub that would support home working in a green environment.

Road access was the biggest issue that came up in a consultation day with residents, and the scheme will not progress unless developers find a solution acceptable to the community.

The ideas were drawn up by the Neighbourhood Plan steering group, made up of city councillors and local volunteers with specialist knowledge, advised by a planning consultant. Whatever makes it into the eventual Plan will have to be approved by voters in a referendum.

The group believes Salisbury needs more affordable housing for young people who wish to start families and for older people who may not be able to afford suitable accommodation.

More public consultation will be needed before the steering group decide whether to take any of these schemes to the next stage of discussion with Wiltshire Council.

To find out more about the Plan, and the full report on this consultation, visit: www.salisburycitycouncil.gov.uk

Get more Salisbury news. 

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date, as well as signing up for one of our newsletters.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.