A MASTERPLAN that could see up to 1,600 houses built in Warminster has been approved by Wiltshire Council.

The controversial West Warminster Urban Extension was approved by a vote of nine to two by councillors at a strategic planning meeting on Wednesday, after it was heard that two separate planning applications have already been submitted for the proposed scheme.

Cllr Terry Chivers and Cllr Christopher Newbury were the two councillors to vote against the plan.

Warminster residents initially expected 900 houses to be built to the west of the town as part of the plan, but Wiltshire Council has since announced that the figure could increase by 600 over the next 25 years, taking it to 1,500 and possibly more after that.

Speaking at the meeting, Warminster councillor Pip Ridout said: “We have been going round and round in circles for nearly two years.

“If we can limit the plan to 1,400 houses and be absolutely sure that any other planning applications in the area are refused, then I can’t really argue against this plan.

“A lot of effort and work has been put in to show that the plot of land can accommodate more than 900 houses.

“We have other land in Warminster to the east of the town which could be built on and roads such as West Street and Bath Road will take an awful lot of strain if the masterplan is approved.

“However, it saddens me that I will have to ask you to accept it so that we can move forward. The two planning applications which have been submitted have to be discussed and the only way to do that is by accepting the plan.

“If it isn’t accepted today, it could be an unmitigated disaster in terms of delivering the five-year housing supply.”

Following Cllr Ridout’s speech, Warminster resident Jeremy Stadward, who was in the public gallery, cried out ‘what a tragedy.’

Mr Stadward, of Haygrove Close, said: “I feel betrayed by our council and I feel that we are being sacrificed for profits of the developers, such as Persimmon.

“Councillors who voted in favour of it are just frightened about not delivering the five-year plan, they don’t care about us, all that matters is money.

“What really frightened me is how the committee has said things can change and the number of houses might keep on rising.

“The community is supposed to have some control in the delivery of a masterplan but we have no control at all. It’s a disaster.”

One of the submitted planning applications, submitted by Redrow, is for 203 houses and is going before the council’s planning committee in July and the other is an outlined application for up to 1,200, submitted by Persimmon.