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Search the Public Notice PortalPlans to build up to 70 homes on the northern end of Melksham have been refused by the council.
On November 22, 2024, Waddeton Park Ltd applied to constructed up to 70 dwellings on land off Woodrow Road, on the northern edge of Melksham.
The application form states: “Outline application for the development of up to 70 dwellings, open space, ecological enhancements, play space, associated infrastructure (including drainage structures and works to the public highway), access, parking, servicing and landscaping.”
However, on July 16, Wiltshire Council issued a decision notice stating it had refused planning permission for the development.
In a decision notice, the council acknowledged the planning application had been made “proactively”, but that it had “no alternative” but to refuse permission.
The notice reads: “In accordance with paragraph 39 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), this planning application has been processed in a proactive way. However, due to technical objections or the proposal's failure to comply with the development plan and/or the NPPF as a matter of principle, the local planning authority has had no alternative other than to refuse planning permission."
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The council issued three reasons for its refusal on the decision notice. The first reason the council gave was that the site of the proposed development lies outside the limits of development defined for the market town of Melksham as identified in the Wiltshire Core Strategy.
The second reason was due to the flood risk faced by the land in question. The notice states the applicant had not submitted a sequential test, despite the site being deemed at risk of surface-level flooding. According to the council, this means the “applicant has failed to demonstrate and satisfy the council that there are no reasonably available sites appropriate for housing development across Wiltshire in areas at lower flood risk, now or in future.”
The third reason was that a Section 106 had not yet been signed, and as such, “the proposal as submitted, fails to make the necessary provisions identified as being necessary for public open space, equipped play, sports provision, education school spaces, affordable housing, safeguarding.”
An officer's report filed with the decision notice states Melksham Town Council, Melksham Without Parish Council, and Lacock Parish Council objected to the plans.
Waddeton Park Ptd was contacted for comment.
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