THE huge house-building target planned for Salisbury could be cut because of the change of government.

Wiltshire Council said on Monday it is committed to reviewing the number of homes and the strategic locations for development put forward in its unpopular South Wiltshire Core Strategy.

This follows the coalition Government’s promise to scrap regional spatial strategies. It was the South West strategy which dictated that development in south Wiltshire should be concentrated around the city, doubling its size.

Planning inspector Robert Yuille, who conducted the recent public examination of the Core Strategy, has told the council he cannot publish his report until further consultation has taken place.

He has written this week to everyone who submitted comments on any aspect of the Core Strategy to ask for their views on the abolition of the regional strategies and targets.

This will give opponents of the huge developments proposed at Netherhampton Road, Hampton Park II and Fugglestone Red another chance to make their case.

One suggestion being made unofficially is that some development could be redirected towards outlying areas, such as Tidworth and Ludgershall, where there is more demand.

Cabinet member John Brady said: “We are told new guidelines about what will replace core strategies will be worked on during the summer Parliamentary recess.

“In the meantime we are seeking clarification from Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary.

“Our planning team is talking to developers to remind them there are still a number of sites available to develop that were allocated in the old Salisbury District Council’s local plan. There is land at Archers Gate, for example, or Old Sarum.

“But in future, the vision is that these things will be driven from the bottom up and not the top down.”

Mr Brady, who represents the St Martins and Cathedral ward, added: “A lot of the figures for projected economic growth were produced in the boom times, and the climate has changed.

“I personally think they were too optimistic and there is every likelihood the housing figures will be reduced. It was a lot to expect south Wiltshire to take.”