Plans for a new housing development in Dilton Marsh have been refused by Wiltshire Council after it received over 140 letters of objection.

The application was submitted in March 2023 and proposed the construction of 62 homes on land to the rear of 117 High Street.

The developers, Grass Roots Planning Ltd, stated: “The development will positively contribute to the growth of the local economy by providing new homes."

They also said it would allow for the “high-quality development of much-needed homes.”

Nevertheless, Dilton Parish Council objected to the plans, branding them an “urban intrusion.”

A further 143 letters of objection were received by Wiltshire Council, raising concerns such as a lack of local infrastructure and the potential harm to the area’s character.

The council noted that the site is located outside of the defined limits of development of Dilton Marsh and that the homes would result in a “large dependence on the private car for most journeys.”

It also stated that “insufficient information in the form of surveys” had been submitted to demonstrate that the site would not represent a loss of key bat foraging habitat as well as a net loss of biodiversity.

Finally, the council concluded the application did not describe the provision of the necessary infrastructure for the development.