Developer bids to build on Royal Wootton Bassett field (From Swindon Advertiser)

Developer bids to build on Royal Wootton Bassett field

8:40pm Monday 7th January 2013 in News By Emma Dunn

CONCERNS have been raised about a revised application to build on a sports field in Royal Wootton Bassett.

Permission was given for 168 dwellings to be built on Gerard Buxton sports ground, in Rylands Way, in 2008, but developer Persimmon Homes has now submitted an application to Wiltshire Council for 129 dwellings instead.

The plans were discussed at the town council’s planning committee meeting last week, where councillors raised concerns about the development’s proximity to existing homes.

Planning committee chairwoman Audrey Wannell said: “We were very concerned with the privacy of three existing properties in Longleaze and Rylands Way.

“We thought two or three of the properties in the plans were going to be overshadowing them and were also too close to the border of their land so they wouldn’t have any privacy.”

Concerns were also raised at the meeting about parking, the height of some of the buildings towards the edge of the development, and councillors were also worried that the affordable housing was not spread throughout the site.

The original development was given the go-ahead five years ago as part of the creation of a £6m sporting hub at Ballards Ash to replace the existing facilities at Gerard Buxton Sports Ground.

A long campaign was fought in the town against the original plans before it was granted.

Michael O’Brien, of Longleaze, who led a campaign group at the time, has written a letter of objection about the new plans.

“I welcome the reduction in dwellings but fundamentally I am still opposed to it,” he said.

“That land was gifted to the people of Royal Wootton Bassett. I want it left as it is. It is a sports recreation field and it is a space for the community.”

Sue Pinnegar, of nearby Tennyson Road, said: “I am urging people to write letters against it. It is terrible.

“It is the only green bit of land we have in Bassett and it is going to be built on. Once it is gone, it’s gone.”

A spokesman for Persimmon Homes said: “This resubmitted residential planning application is for the proposed development of a lesser number of 129 dwellings and associated open space in order to reflect the changing housing market from that prevalent when the application was originally submitted back in 2008.

“This resubmitted planning application is for a significantly lesser number of dwellings but it respects the form and layout principles deemed to be acceptable in the previous scheme.”

To view or comment on the application visit www.wiltshire. gov.uk/planninganddevelopment.htm and search for 12/03941/FUL. Comments need to be made before Thursday.