1 week Ago
A planning application was recently submitted to amend approved plans for the Rawlings Green development on the northeastern edge of Chippenham. This scheme would see 650 homes built across two separate stages, with a link road to the B4069 Langley Road constructed after phase one. Developers Summix and Crest Nicholson want to amend the original proposal, which was approved in 2021, to relocate a planned care home and change the use of employment units that will be built.
Chippenham Town Council, which has also objected to the two detailed applications that would allow stages one and two to progress, does not believe this should be allowed. READ MORE: Siemens starts construction of £100m Chippenham factory What some of the houses could look like (Image: Crest Nicholson Operations Ltd and Summix Ltd) A report by the town council’s planning officer Andy Conroy said: “The mix of uses now proposed and lack of a local centre would fail to provide sufficient employment, leisure, and community uses to meet the needs of future residents. “The layout, scale, and appearance of the proposed development would be car dominated and, in some cases, would not provide adequate living conditions for future occupiers.
“On some points of the site there would likely be highway safety conflicts.” Cllr Matthew Short added: “I live relatively close to those fields, I think everybody in Chippenham knows them and uses them. “They’ve got planning permission, they’re going to be built on, but we need to make it fit for the 21st century and as good as they can be.
” Cllr Nick Murry believed it was wrong the developer was trying to alter previously approved plans while the more detailed applications were yet to be determined. He said: “It’s very convoluted..
. I think it’s wrong and we should object strongly to it.” SEE ALSO: Plans for Wiltshire and Bath Metro system revealed The current site (Image: Newsquest) At the time of writing, both reserved matters applications were due to be determined by Wiltshire Council this spring.
The first stage would see 196 homes built and would be followed by another 454 in phase two. The link road must be built before 200 homes are occupied. Previous plans insist the development would benefit the community.
They said: “The site proposal will deliver a sustainable development through the incorporation of various elements. “Alongside the new market homes for sale, the development would deliver a number of new affordable homes within a range of tenures. “These new affordable homes will benefit households who are waiting on the housing register and those wishing to buy their first home.
”.
