New homes plans gets thumbs up from Chapmanslade community

RESIDENTS in Chapmanslade are supporting plans to build 40 new homes on part of the Barters Plant Centre site in the village

Over 30 people attended the recent parish council meeting to see a presentation by developers Lochailort Investments Limited.

The plans are for 40 homes ranging from one to five bedrooms with 30 per cent being subsidised and affordable housing.

Council chairman Phil Jefferson said, “Hugo Haig, Lochailort’s managing director, stressed that his company’s work was at a relatively early stage and that he would not proceed with the development if the Chapmanslade community rejected it.

“Mr Haig told us that he aimed to create a sensitive, well-considered and high quality development of which the village and wider area would be proud. There would be extensive use of traditional, locally typical materials including brick and render elevations, slate and tile roofs, and selective use of flint and stone.

“Access would be provided to neighbouring properties to the south and west of the development and building lines would diminish to 1.5 storeys along the corresponding boundaries. He added that car-parking provision would be enhanced, all parking would be off-street and there would be ample parking for each unit.

“This, together with planting to the front garden areas, would produce attractive uncluttered areas.

“The roads themselves would include raised tables to reduce speed and different surface materials would be utilised to soften the appearance and add to the attractiveness of the overall scheme. And finally, each property would have a private garden, enclosed in the most part with fencing, some with brick feature walls, and others with hedging and fencing.

“Residents discussed a number of points concerning the proposed development. Would the character of the village change and could the village’s infrastructure (including our road system) cope with an additional 40 houses? Would the proposed access from Cley Hill Gardens be safe? Would planning permission be given as the site is outside the village’s ‘building line’ and in the light of Wiltshire Council’s Core Strategy document which envisages only a small amount of housing development taking place between now and 2026 in the Warminster Rural area?

“On the positive side, the prospect of affordable housing being made available in the village looked attractive. More youngsters of primary school age living in the village might help secure the long-term future of the school and the possibility of mains gas reaching the village would be enhanced.

“Also, if the development went ahead, a certain amount of cash (known as Section 106 funds) would be made available to fund community projects. This might be used to tackle some of the traffic issues in Chapmanslade and Mr Haig offered the services of his transport consultants to work on this.

“The overall feeling of the meeting was that the development would be welcomed in the village. The parish council resolved, despite the concerns mentioned above, to work alongside Lochailort by offering advice and to help tackle the various issues which had been raised.

“We would welcome your views on the proposals. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us or do come along to our next meeting.”

The scheme will now go to Wiltshire Council planners for a decision.