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Council approves design for 248-home development

Redrow Homes Image shows a design for a 248-home development, with the new housing highlighted in a lighter green and the housing already present in a muted grey Redrow Homes
The proposed layout for the Elm Grove Farm development

The design of a 248-home development outside a town has been approved by Wiltshire Council.

The western area planning committee gave the go-ahead on the reserved matters application for the Elm Grove Farm site in Trowbridge on 4 December.

Representatives of Redrow Homes attended the meeting and told councillors that the scheme would be an "asset to the town".

Councillor Antonio Piazza said although Redrow Homes has shown a willingness to adapt the plans, concerns raised by the community remain "unaddressed".

Nearby residents were present at the meeting to raise their concerns over the impact on their privacy and the bat mitigation strategy, as well as issues relating to highways such as the placement of the hammerhead turning point on Drynham Lane.

Mr Piazza said: "It is imperative that this development is held to the highest standard, ensuring the preservation of our environment on the site, infrastructure, and most of all the quality of life of existing residents and new residents."

Redrow Homes An image that shows how the designs will look when built. On the right of the image, a row of red brick attached housing can be seen. Next to the red brick housing, a semi-detached house, with white brick, is pictured. Further down the road, we can see the start of a row of white brick houses. Redrow Homes
The case officer recommended that the committee approve the reserved matters application

A representative of Redrow Homes argued that the applicant had worked hard to satisfy the needs of the bat mitigation strategy.

He said: "The lighting impacts of the layout have been subject to a great deal of scrutiny, and the conclusion of the scheme is that it is appropriate, and the impacts are acceptable.

"We recognise that there have been concerns raised by the public in relation to ecology, highways and surface water matters, but in all of these cases, officers have been satisfied that the detailed and not indicative proposals work and that the scheme has been supported with no technical objections being raised.

"The proposed development will also deliver a number of key benefits, including 248 open-market, affordable, high-quality, and well-designed homes which will help meet existing needs."

The committee resolved to approve the reserved matters application, noting that they would welcome the applicant's offer to reconsider the siting of the hammerhead turning at a later date.

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