Fears 33 new homes in Marlborough will cause 'parking chaos'

Aster housing group has submitted an application to demolish the existing buildings at York Place, on St Martins in Marlborough, and construct 33 affordable homes in its place.

York Place had been home to 32 one and two-bedroom flats and four bungalows reserved for elderly people, but neighbours say those residents have now been moved out of the building.

The scheme would see seven one-bedroom and 26 two-bedroom flats take their place alongside communal parking for 15 cars and a new pedestrian access off Rawlingswell Lane.

But this has sparked anger amongst neighbours who fear the increase in inhabitants will cause a parking nightmare in an area “already at capacity.”

One Rawlingswell Lane resident said: “They aren’t providing enough parking spaces, I won’t be able to park outside my house because someone else will.

“It is going to be absolutely chaotic… it’s at the point where I’m selling up and putting my house on the market, I’ve had enough.”

Another local added: “Most people are concerned about the parking, it’s going to put pressure on the area with more people fighting for limited spaces.”

Marlborough Town Council echoed these concerns and recently objected to the development partly due to “insufficient car parking provision”, as well as the fact the proposal “does not contain social housing to meet the needs of the community.”

The proposal to construct an access onto Rawlingswell Lane has also been controversial, with residents labelling the location of the route “dangerous” for cyclists and pedestrians.

Others have supported the plans, however, claiming the area would be “enhanced” by replacing the current buildings with dwellings “more suited” to neighbouring architecture.

In their planning statement, Aster claims the development would make a “valuable contribution” towards increasing Wiltshire’s housing supply.

The proposed pedestrian access (Image: Newsquest)

The housing group said: “Our purpose is to provide a mix of quality affordable housing options to meet different customer needs and this site is no exception.

"York Place was no longer providing our customers with a decent standard of accommodation, and we’ve worked closely with them to find suitable alternative homes to make way for 33 new properties which we hope will go some way to meeting the affordable housing need in and around north Wiltshire.”

The deadline for a decision by Wiltshire Council is July 25.