WILTSHIRE Council’s cabinet has approved the final alterations to the Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations plan.

Council chiefs have given the green light to the final changes to the plan, made by the government’s Planning Inspectorate.

However, the plan, which would see 42,000 homes built in the county by 2026, must be approved by the full council meeting on February 25 before it is adopted.

Changes the inspector is recommending include deleting three area of land which were recommended for homes: a plan for 80 homes at Market Lavington, near Devizes; for 50 homes at Crudwell, near Malmesbury and a scheme for 50 houses at Hullavington, near Chippenham.

Cllr Toby Sturgis, cabinet member for spatial planning, said: “The Wiltshire Site Allocations Plan which was approved by cabinet has been through extensive consultation with our communities and will enable us to deliver new housing in the most appropriate locations in Wiltshire, which is a government priority.

“The plan will now be considered by full council, and if approved, its adoption will significantly help support the delivery of housing across Wiltshire and meet the future needs of our communities.”

The plan identifies land which should be used for house-building throughout Wiltshire, to allow the creation of 42,000 new homes from 2006 to 2026, many of which have already been built..

The government also says a minimum of 40,500 homes must be built to meet the housing needs for Wiltshire between 2016 and 2036.

The latest changes made to the plan are final and now the council must choose to adopt the plan with the inspector’s recommendations or not.

If adopted, the plan will ensure an improved housing supply which will be used alongside the Wiltshire Core Strategy when making planning decisions.

Following an extended period of consultation, the plan was submitted to the Secretary of State in July last year for examination by an independent inspector.

Since then the council has held a public consultation and and an examination in public.

The inspector returned their report on January 23 with the changes recommended for the plan to proceed for adoption.

The report also recommends the deletion of a site for 100 homes in Warminster due to concerns over the sites impact on heritage assets.

Following the inspector’s report, the modifications must be approved at the full council meeting on February 25.