PLANS to build 203 homes as part of the West Urban Extension (WUE) in Warminster have been rejected by the Town Council’s planning committee on the grounds there is no master plan in place.

Nearly 20 residents from St Andrews Road and Haygrove Close attended the meeting on Monday to oppose the application by Redrow, which was unanimously refused by councillors.

Speaking at the meeting, Len Turner from Warminster and Villages Community Partnership, said: “The Partnership normally doesn’t comment on these sort of things but we feel that it’s totally inappropriate that consideration be given to any plans at this site when we are still waiting for a master plan.

“We’re not against housing and we realise the urgent need for houses but if this land is being developed we need to see a master plan for that area.”

According to Wiltshire Council’s Core Strategy, up to 900 homes can be built in the WUE but requires that developers Redrow, Persimmon and Hannick Homes – who all want to build on the site – put together a master plan and avoid a piecemeal approach.

Despite no such plan being put in place, Redrow originally submitted an application for 230 homes last year which were reduced to 203 with the addition of a pumping station to help with drainage.

George Williams, a resident from St Andrews Road, said at the meeting: “It seems to me that very little has changed since the previous application.

“There is still the problem of drainage and sewage and there is no mention of the potential noise and smell a pumping station would cause.

“There is also still the issue of access and for the current residents this is not acceptable.”

As well as concerns over access and drainage, there are also worries about wildlife in the area and the aesthetics of any development.

Putting forward the motion to reject the application, Councillor George Jolley said: “I would like to say that I agree with all of the concerns raised tonight and that I’m totally against the plan.

“This application can only be resolved with one master plan for the whole site and we need to make Wiltshire Council aware of this.”