Many people attended last night’s (Monday 9 March) meeting of the Town Council Planning Committee, most of whom were there to ‘ask questions’ regarding the Planning Application PL/2025/05505. This is for the development of a ‘new ecohome’ in the garden of Isbury House in Kingsbury Street (31a), replacing a summerhouse and garage. Originally waved through in July last year, the Committee recognised that their original decision was not supported by relevant issues that related to Planning and accordingly agreed to change their original approval to rejection. A very unusual (unique?) decision.
This application was subsequently turned down by Wiltshire Council but the applicant then decided to appeal. At last night’s meeting it was for the Planning Committee to consider this appeal. As for the vote to reverse the original decision the vote to object to the appeal was unanimous.
Opinion across nearby neighbours is universally against this project. Wiltshire Council’s decision to refuse was based on three clear reasons but it was the Conservation Officer’s report that was most critical. This proposal was completely wrong for this area and space. The proposed build would be visually dominant, alien to the area (a Conservation Area), and wrong for numerous other reasons. One related to the (historic) wall behind the Clarendon Court development which had to be almost rebuilt recently at great expense, and such works would put this structure – and the Clarendon Court properties – at risk. And loss of their privacy. There were no ‘positives’.
The opinion of all those who attended the meeting was strongly and universally ‘No’.
When this application was initially discussed back on 14 July (click to access minutes – see p4 section ‘g) there hadn’t been any published objection. The first (noted on the application) came on the day of that meeting but wasn’t there in time for publication of the agenda. At this stage the opinions of adjacent residents weren’t known, recognised or appreciated. As well as the obvious effects on neighbours, no-one initially considered the issue of access to the property which would be between Isbury House and the next door property and the gap between the two buildings is shown as c.1.8m. How would any average size car get through there, let alone builders vans or construction / supply vehicles? The obvious next stage would be to go for access at the other end into Herd Street, but that would be impossible.
Next stage – Appeal. This is now with the Planning Inspectorate. Likely outcome – strong negative opinion and objection from Marlborough Town Council, Wiltshire Council and many local residents – would be rejection. But that is, at this stage, an unknown.
Summed up succinctly by one member of the public at the meeting: ‘Nice house, wrong place’……..
Access to Riding School Yard by Waitrose frequently blocked by inconsiderate drivers
