'Ugly' housing development design rejected for village near Trowbridge
The layout for 90 homes in Holt has been refused by Wiltshire Council
The design and layout of 90 homes in a village north of Trowbridge have been rejected by a Wiltshire Council planning committee.
The reserved matters application for the land off Melksham Road in Holt was discussed at the western area planning committee meeting last week (Thursday 5th February).
Local member Cllr Trevor Carbin branded the plans as “basically ugly”, whilst applicants Bewley Homes argued it was a “high-quality design” that “positively responds to the existing character of Holt”.
Approval of the outline application for the development was granted by the planning inspectorate at an appeal against non-determination in 2023.
The development itself is therefore set to go ahead, but issues were raised over the details revealed in the reserved matters application.
Three residents attended the meeting to speak in objection to the plans, alongside a representative of Holt Parish Council.
One expressed concern over plans for the water pumping station near his property.
He claimed that potential odours would affect their quality of life, enjoyment of their gardens, and property values.
The applicant’s agent noted that there would be orchard planting around the underground pump, and it would not involve any sewage treatment, so no odours were expected on the site.
However, two other residents accused the developers of trying to “maximise profit” and described the plans as “a poor visual gateway” to the village.
Andrew Driscoll, western land director at Bewley Homes, has argued that the final scheme was shaped through “extensive engagement”.
He said: “Our proposals incorporate high-quality design throughout that positively responds to the existing character of Holt.
“We’re proud to present the scheme which we believe excels in a whole range of areas including betterment in biodiversity, building regulations and climate change, public open space including a community orchard, and improved affordable housing space standards.”
Mr Driscoll added: “The development as a whole is considered to present a high-quality, efficient, and appropriate sustainable design that draws on local context and would integrate well into the locality.”
The chairman of Holt Parish Council, Cllr Steve Siddall, responded: “We remain deeply concerned by the cumulative harm caused by this unplanned, generic, low-quality scheme’s failures.”
He listed issues such as the development’s frontage on Melksham Road and the lack of a central village green.
During the course of the application, amended plans were submitted that reduced the size of this central open space.
The case officer report stated: “Whilst it is appreciated that the Parish Council want a larger and more functional space, taking into considerations about the location of the housing following local residents’ representations and the need to provide an appropriate density, it is considered that this layout is the optimum that can be achieved to accommodate all the competing interests.”
Nevertheless, Cllr Carbin said: “There is nothing wrong with developers wanting to make a profit, that’s how things work, but this has gone too far, it has gone beyond that stage of flexibility and compromise to something which is basically ugly.”
Cllr Ernie Clark agreed that the plans had “no similarity in character” to the Great Parks area of Holt and deemed them “rubbish”.
The committee resolved to refuse the plans, with the expectation that the applicant will likely appeal their decision.