Plans to build 49 houses in Laverstock were refused at Wiltshire Council’s planning meeting.

On August 14, Wiltshire Council discussed the planning application made up by Hallam Land Management & Velcourt Group Ltd at a planning meeting in Trowbridge.

The application was a proposal to build 49 dwellings, with green infrastructure and children’s play, in land east to Church Road. Initially, the plans were made to build 135 houses, but this was revised to 49 in April.

Wiltshire Council was recommended to approve the application, but decided instead to refuse it

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The planning officerThe planning officer (Image: Newsquest)

The planning officer said at the meeting: “The development constitutes unsuitable development in the open countryside.

“The development is also contrary to revisions of the Laverstock and Ford Neighbourhood Plan 2022 which recognises that the settlement is identified a small village where development is limited to infill."

The motion for refusal was carried following a vote by the committee.

Nick speaking at the meetingNick speaking at the meeting (Image: Newsquest)

Laverstock and Ford Parish Council had objected to the plans, due to them being  "premature in relation to the emerging Wiltshire Local Plan" (Wiltshire Core Strategy).

Following the outcome, the chairman of the Laverstock and Ford Parish Council Nick Baker said: “We are very encouraged that we’ve got decisions by the strategic planning committee representing real listening to concerns of residents.

“What we’re wanting to hear is the decision on where they’re going to change the local plan and I hope they will look at the allocation of houses. I am encouraged by today’s decision; you always go in conscious of the argument but I was hopeful about it and good senses prevailed.

“I think this does show that people commenting on planning applications does make a difference and public voices have been heard. That’s really encouraging and we’re really grateful for the people who took the time to comment.”

At the meeting, a resident, Judy, said: "Laverstock is a semi rural parish with an incredibly special landscape, flora and fauna. It's right next door to Salisbury but it has its own distinct character and it really is a village."

She added that the development would "severely damage" Laverstock, and it's "incredibly important" that the local plan process is completed before applications such as this were made.

"As a community we voted for a neighbourhood plan, this development is not in it."