THE news that the proposed development of 60 houses in Bradford on Avon was approved last month has been met with mixed reactions by people across the town.

Spitfire Homes’ development plans for the site that is to the north of Holt Road and Cemetery Lane include up to 3000m² of employment floor space, a public open space, allotments, access, drainage, landscaping and engineering works.

Some of the benefits include the provision of new public open space, the potential for an improved gateway to the town, in addition to ecological and economic benefits such as new homes bonus that would be paid to the council.

However, not everyone is convinced over the development, which was rejected last September, with councillors and civic bodies split on whether or not it is a positive development.

Cllr Janet Repton said: “We have a constant stream of cars crossing the bridge already. I was not for this development two years ago and I am still not for it now.

“But as we have got to have it I hope it can make some improvement to the traffic situation but I think this will add more problems to a very difficult situation.”

The land is opposite Kingston Farm, where permission for 138 homes and 77,000 sq ft of commercial space was given by Wiltshire Council in February 2014.

Deputy mayor Laurie Brown said: “When it was put forward there was great concern that it was more housing than necessary. At that time, the housing requirement for 2026 was for less than 20 houses.

“Since then the quota has been changed to 64 houses, the goal posts were moved. There are still issues such as questions over infrastructure, narrowing the Holt Road, the proximity to the Kingston Farm development. So far we only have the outline plan.”

Cllr Gwen Allison said: “This will bring in commercial benefits to go along with the Kingston Farm development but more talks are needed still.”

Bradford on Avon community area network co-ordinator Jim Lynch said: “I think that any further development, with the Kingston Farm one, is a bit premature. I think we should wait to see the consequences of this current one. Until the neighbourhood plan is published it has no legal standing.”

Gerald-Milward Oliver, director of the Bradford on Avon Development Trust, said: “Spitfire was the most advanced application and it was very important that we can keep a company like Anthony Best Dynamics in the town and this helps with that.”

Cllr Alison Craddock said: “I don’t have a problem as such with a development but I am surprised no effort has been made to widen the road. It is a good site for redevelopment, however.”

Cllr Jon Potter said: “We are obliged to follow this national strategy and this is the least worst outcome of it all. Even the concern with the narrow Holt Road actually makes it more safe as people have to slop down and drive more carefully.

“All in all developments in the town are very difficult and there is a natural desire to keep the status quo but you cannot always do that, things do change.”