NEIGHBOURS in Cricklade are being consulted about plans for up to 140 new homes near the village.

Newland Homes held an exhibition in the town hall earlier this week so that people interested in the new development could meet the team and voice their views.

The housing developer constructed its first home in Cricklade in 1991 and now wants to help Wiltshire Council meet its housebuilding target by building just under half of 385 new homes in the village required by 2036.

The Cricklade Town Plan, prepared in 2012 by members of the community, identified land to the north of Reeds as the preferred location for housing growth.

The proposal will be in-keeping with Cricklade’s character and the mix of properties will include affordable homes for sale and rent, starter or first homes for the under 40s, custom or self-build homes, as well as homes for sale on the open market.

Properties will be built to the latest construction techniques and the provision of solar panels and air source heat pumps means the homes will be zero carbon in terms of energy use.

Work has been carried out to ensure the North Meadow Site of Special Scientific Interest is protected through the setting-up of a new support site. The company has been working with Natural England on these proposals and the habitat support site has been designed around the North Meadow SSSI. This approach is endorsed by Natural England.

Newland Homes planning director: "Cricklade has been identified as a location for new homes and we are proposing a climate considerate collection of new homes.

"The habitat support site will include wildflower meadows and woodland planting, with a network of footpaths across the site for people to walk their dog, have a picnic or relax surrounded by nature.

"By encouraging people to make use of this new area for recreational purposes, we can protect and preserve the biodiversity-rich North Meadow in perpetuity.

Feedback can be emailed to feedback@newlandhomes.co.uk or write to Cricklade Consultation, Newland Homes, Brighouse Court, Barnett Way, Barnwood, Gloucester, GL4 3RT.

Visit www.newlandhomes.co.uk/crickladeconsultation