RESIDENTS have called plans to build hundreds of houses on fields outside their back garden "underhanded" and "deliberately planned".

Wiltshire Council announced details of its 15-year local plan for development across the county on Tuesday, July 4.

This revised scheme outlined a vision for thousands of new houses in Salisbury, including around 265 dwellings at land south of Harnham and 45 at land west of Coombe Road.

Residents in and around Portland Avenue came together to express their discontent ahead of the council's cabinet meeting on Tuesday, July 11, where the plans will be reviewed.

Read more: ​Council Local Plan includes new housing developments for Salisbury

Wiltshire Council's initial 2021 local plan did not earmark the land south of Harnham for development so the nearby residents did not oppose.

But now, some say building houses on the greenfield site will "ruin" the natural beauty spot "for generations to come".

Salisbury Journal: The field south of Harnham.The field south of Harnham. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Sarah Golby lives in Harvard Heights, Harnham, and said she would like the field to remain as it is for her daughter.

She said: "I'd like to have that for her and it is being ruined for generations to come. It's just such as loss going forward and you can't put it back."

Andrew Chadwick feels as though residents' views will not be properly represented at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday because they have had no chance to voice them.

"Most of us only found out about this two days ago from Facebook," he said.

Salisbury Journal: Andrew Chadwick in front of the field marked for development.Andrew Chadwick in front of the field marked for development. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

Andy Budgell told the Journal he conducts speed watches on Coombe Road and frequently sees drivers travelling 50 to 60 miles per hour in the 30 miles per hour limit zone.

Joanna Dingley has lived in Portland Avenue for 20 years, she said: "It feels very underhanded and deliberately planned.

"It’s not just the field it’s an asset to Salisbury. It has history beneath the earth."

See more: ​Salisbury City Council: Row over hanging baskets continues

Additional traffic causing pressure on Salisbury and surrounding villages through "rat runs" is another of Joanna's concerns.

"Ambulances are going to be stuck in gridlock. If the traffic is let to it would have implications on the villages.

"It’s naïve of them to say everyone would take the bus because it would be caught in traffic," she added.

Cllr Annie Riddle, Independent for West Harnham, said: "I'm already getting a lot of comments from worried residents about all this, and I understand and share their concerns, particularly about the short notice of the Cabinet agenda, but I'd like to reassure them that there will be ample time to respond to these proposals, both individually and as a community.

"It's a shame the holiday period is coming up when so many people will be away, but I am trying to enlist the support of my fellow councillors for Harnham in organising a public meeting in due course."

The official public consultation for Wiltshire's local plan begins in Autumn.