I do not usually bother commenting on small developments, but this one has potential to set an unwelcome precedent.
It is for up to nine dwellings at land east of Purton between Hyde Lane and Collins Lane. The submitted Planning Statement does not demonstrate that the site is suitable for the proposed amount of
development. The site is mostly outside the settlement boundary.
In particular, it fails to establish compliance with:
- settlement boundary and countryside policies;
- safe and suitable access from Hyde Lane;
- adequate pedestrian connectivity;
- a deliverable surface-water drainage solution;
- protection of neighbouring amenity; and the absence of harm to the setting of nearby heritage assets and local landscape character.
In particular, the illustrative block plan does not demonstrate that nine dwellings can be accommodated acceptably because the final layout is expressly deferred. The Wiltshire Council should therefore refuse permission on the basis of the information submitted in the application.
If the application is re-submitted, the Council should require robust evidence on highways, drainage, landscape, heritage, ecology and the capacity of the site.
If you are so minded to comment, all the information, including the place to submit comments, may be found here. Comments are to be submitted by 5pm Wednesday, 18 November.
If the settlement boundary is to be extended, it should be done through a Wiltshire Council-led process with open consultation, not through developer-led applications cherry-picking Purton’s land.
