Thanks to all those who participated in the CarbonBrake Housing Sites survey recently.
Although not too many responded, there was a clear preference for infill versus a one-off development outside the current settlement boundary. That is quite interesting given that the proposed re-development of the old thatched cottage along Witts Lane (a classic bit of infill) is raising substantial debate and opposition.
Recognising the intuitive desire for “infill-only” yet conscious that we simply do not get what the village needs through this mechanism (consider “the thatched cottage” saga), I submitted an argument to Wiltshire Council in the recent consultation based on the responses I received. I sought to strike a balance between plumping for infill-only and a one-off development by re-affirming the importance of allowing our (Purton’s) neighbourhood planning process to take its course: Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations DPD Submission 5may14
It is essential that we are all involved in this incredibly important debate about future housing in Purton, and to do so via the neighbourhood planning process. I have encouraged the Purton Parish Council to do more outreach on this.
I also argued in my submission to Wiltshire Council that the settlement boundary (which currently prevents housing in the countryside around Purton) should remain as is, until reviewed during the neighbourhood planning process.
The consultation has now closed and it is disappointing to note that although several developers and/or their agents have submitted arguments for changing the settlement boundary (to accommodate their particular land interests of course) that my voice was somewhat alone in standing against this tide; sadly, although I requested the Parish Council to write in and defend the current boundary, they declined to do so.
A decision that we may very well come to regret …
