AN appeal has been launched after Wiltshire Council rejected plans for 26 houses in Semington.

Greystoke Land put in a planning bid to the local authority in 2019 to build 26 houses on land north of St George’s Road of which 50 per cent would have been affordable.

Notably, the plans would also retain the area’s WWII pillbox.

However, planning officers knocked the plans back citing that the development would be in “open countryside” and therefore would not meet the council’s core building policies.

Wiltshire Times: Indicative layout for the Greystoke Land plans for land north of St George's RoadIndicative layout for the Greystoke Land plans for land north of St George's Road

“The proposal conflicts with the council's plan-led approach to the delivery of new housing sites outside of the identified limits of development,” officers wrote.

“The proposal, by reason of its size, protruding onto open agricultural land, would have a harmful impact on the character and appearance of Semington and the surrounding rural landscape, creating a large urbanised expansion beyond the existing built-up area of the village.”

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Officers also noted that insufficient evidence was given to assess the ecological impact of the proposed development.

Greystoke Land put in their appeal with the planning inspector and were rejected once more but launched a high court battle over the decision dated November 17, 2020.

The comapny won the case and this means that the planning inspector must redetermine the appeal.

The Planning Inspectorate has extended the deadline for further representations to Tuesday, August 3, 2021.

There is no date currently given for the new decision.