PURTON residents are fighting a bid to build a 41-home housing estate months after a 25-house development close by was thrown out by planners because it was too big size for the village.

The controversial application by Persimmon Homes for six four-bedroomed homes, 18 three-bedroomed homes and 17 two-bedroomed homes, plus a play area off Restrop Road, is set to be decided by Wiltshire Council early next year but dozens of residents have already objected.

In its application Persimmon said the council was not able to show a five-year supply of land for housing, which meant development proposals should be approved unless the adverse effects significantly outweighed the benefits.

A spokesman for Purton Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group said: “If allowed, this would seriously undermine four years of work on behalf of the parish council.”

It said although Persimmon had acknowledged the draft plan existed it had not consulted the group and had not aligned its application with the plan.

It also said the style of the proposed houses was urban and not rural and the density of housing was too high.

And it said Wiltshire Council was very close to being able to demonstrate it had a five-year supply of land for housing so there was no need for the Restrop Road development.

The group also pointed out an application for 25 houses at Pavenhill had been thrown out by Wiltshire Council because it was considered to be unsustainable for the village.

Dozens of residents have objected online. David Arnold said the size of the development would overwhelm the village.

“Once again we have a developer trying to push through development plans in advance of the neighbourhood plan being finalised,” he said.

“Wiltshire County Council should stop obstructing this plan and allow the village to proceed as they intend for the benefit of the village and its residents, not for the profit of a national company.”

Renate Challis said there was protected wildlife on the site and the extra traffic joining Restrop Road would cause a danger.

Kevin Sands wrote: “This will put more pressure on village resources.

“There is currently only one small shop and no parking for customers who use it, which cause congestion and possible risk to life with the cars choosing to park in unsafe areas of the road.”

Wiltshire Police has also objected to the plan, stating that post and wire fences at the back of properties on the edge of the development do not provide enough security.

Crime prevention design advisor Robert Walton wrote: “They offer little or no protection against intrusion. At best they serve as a means of indicating the extent of an owner’s land and are unlikely to prevent even pet dogs from straying between neighbouring properties, leading to disputes between residents and having a detrimental effect on the quality of life within the area.

“They certainly present no serious hindrance to a sufficiently motivated offender who, due to the absence of a secure gate would have no difficulty in entering the rear garden of one property and simply accessing neighbouring properties.”