VILLAGERS in Heytesbury and surrounding hamlets are to be consulted about plans for 25 new homes to meet local housing needs.

The parish council for Heytesbury, Imber & Knook decided on Tuesday (May 24) to hold a six-week consultation at the end of June.

The council has already accepted the need for 25 new homes to be built in the parish in the run-up to 2036.

The recommendations of its Future Planning Working Group were discussed at a parish council meeting on Tuesday.

They plan to send out a position statement and questionnaire to 400 residents and to bring back the results to council for further discussion.

The group says that up to 11 of the new houses should be affordable homes to meet local housing needs, including eight subsidised rented housing and three shared ownership/discount market homes.

The remaining 14 homes will be for the open market as Heytesbury was classed by Wiltshire Council as a large village in the 2021 Local Plan Review.

In a rural housing needs report, the parish council said: “Given these results, the parish council was broadly happy with the 25 houses indicated requirement for Heytesbury in 2021.”

They say the new affordable homes could be built in partnership with a housing association provider, through a community-led Community Land Trust, through an agreement with a housing developer, or from potential interest from speculative developers.