THE FRIENDS of Woolley and the wider community are celebrating after Redcliffe Homes withdrew its planning application to develop 57 homes on the edge of Bradford on Avon.

The Bristol-based housing developer wanted to build up to 57 homes on land to the east of Woolley designated by the Bradford on Avon Neighbourhood Plan as open green space.

Residents objected strongly to the scheme, saying the homes would be built on ‘local green space’ land near Woolley Street and would generate more traffic. Wiltshire Council received almost 150 letters from residents in the area.

The field to the east of Woolley provides the setting to the conservation area and Crown Court, an area consisting of 18th and 19th century cottages considered by Wiltshire Heritage as being heritage assets. It is home to a wide range of protected species of wildlife, such as bats, barn owls, fieldfares, redwings and badgers.

Locals united with Bradford on Avon Town Council, the Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust, Historic England and Wiltshire Council’s highways and drainage department in opposing the development.

Friends of Woolley chair, Brian Elliott, said: “We welcome the withdrawal of this application. The development was completely out of keeping and inappropriate for this area.

“We are aware this doesn’t mean interest in the field as a potential development site has gone away, however, as a community body, we would hope this could become an enhanced and permanently protected wildlife area.”

Kurt Paulus, an executive member of Friends of Woolley, added: “We’re pleased that Redcliffe Homes has withdrawn its application.

“There was unanimous objection to their plan in the local community which confirms that we’re right to keep a close eye on these developments and object if they don’t come up with the sort of developments that the community needs.

“It’s reassuring that many objections which local people made, and also some from the public bodies who objected, were on technical grounds.

“Redcliffe Homes has obviously decided to withdraw its application and take a breather. What we don’t know is what will happen after the public referendum on the Neighbourhood Plan.

“We’re hoping that if the Neighbourhood Plan achieves a ‘yes’ vote, it will offer some protection against the kind of plans that Redcliffe Homes put forward.” 

Cllr Dominic Newton, the leader of Bradford on Avon Town Council, said: “Very well done to Friends of Woolley for a strong campaign, which protected not only their interests but those of the town, and also to all those involved in this.

“I rather suspect that an application will return at some stage. After eight or more years, developers are not so easily defeated.”

He urged residents to vote ‘yes’ in September’s public referendum on Bradford on Avon’s draft Neighbourhood Plan to help protect the town against large-scale housing developments up to the year 2026.