Major boost for 55-home development in Wiltshire village

Redcliffe Homes' plans for up to 55 homes on a field north of Melksham Road in Holt were backed by Wiltshire Council in October 2025, despite considerable opposition in the village.

The outline application had previously gone before the council’s strategic planning committee in April 2025, when councillors were given a stark warning about repeatedly rejecting housing schemes.

Planning manager Kenny Green said the government could place the authority into “special measures” if too many council refusals were subsequently overturned by planning inspectors.

He said the council was already above seven per cent against a government threshold of 10 per cent.

Members eventually voted six to three to approve the application, despite objections over traffic, pedestrian safety, and the loss of a green field.

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Now the council has approved a series of detailed requirements that had to be dealt with before the development could progress, covering issues including drainage, trees, contamination and wildlife.

The latest decision notice, dated November 4, says the council is satisfied with the information submitted.

Its public protection officer found the site suitable for housing with no further investigation or clean-up required over potential contamination.

There had been some hurdles along the way.

In September, the council's drainage team said the information submitted did not meet one of its requirements concerning the rate at which rainwater would leave the site.

Revised plans subsequently proposed reducing the discharge rate from six litres per second to 5.3 litres per second, which officers accepted.

Wildlife measures were also initially considered insufficient.

The council's ecologist wanted clearer information about proposed homes for bats, swifts and insects and when they would be installed.

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Revised plans now provide for 57 built-in swift bricks, 27 built-in bat boxes and three log piles, with the features to be installed during construction.

The scheme is expected to include a community orchard and play area, while 22 of the 55 homes were proposed as affordable housing, including 13 for social rent.

The council's latest notice says the approved requirements must now be followed as the development progresses.