Plans for over 400 homes near M4 in Wiltshire to be decided

Catesby Estates wants to build the homes, along with a Local Centre and primary school on 25 hectares at Midge Hall Farm, Royal Wootton Bassett.

Wiltshire Council planning officers say the scheme should be granted outline planning permission, but the outline planning application has been "called in" by the ward councillor, meaning elected members on the Strategic Planning Committee will make the final decision next Tuesday, June 16.

Catesby Estates is a land agent rather than a developer. If it can secure outline planning permission, it will then sell the land - with planning permission - to a housebuilder.

The developer would then have to return to the council with its proposals for the exact number of homes, the layout of the estate, and road improvements.

If planning permission is granted, it will come with a host of conditions.

The council will expect 40 per cent of the homes to be designated affordable housing.

And it will want hundreds of thousands of pounds in financial contributions to schools, bus services, and even £141,000 towards improvements to the M4 Junction 16 and £550 per home towards the restoration of the Wilts & Berks Canal.

The plans, which first surfaced in March last year, have faced opposition by locals.

Lydiard Tregoze Parish Council "strongly objects," saying the development will put a strain on local school, health provision, and the roads - claiming up to 850 extra cars a day through the parish.

Lydiard Millicent Parish Council also objects, citing the pressure on local infrastructure and "increased traffic to and from West Swindon."

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council says it "remains concerned about the developer’s ability to deliver the scheme in a timely manner, particularly given the significant uncertainties surrounding the provision of essential infrastructure such as water supply, sewage capacity, and gas/electricity connections."

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There have been 57 representations to the council from groups and individuals, with 50 against the proposal.

Council officers admit that the scheme conflicts with its own planning strategy as it is outside the defined settlement boundary, but says weight is given to the provision of hundreds of new homes, especially affordable housing.

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