Wiltshire Council have refused the Planning Application by McCarthy & Stone (PL/2025/03165) to turn the former Police Station in George Lane into a large and overbearing Retirement Complex, wedging a large three storey building into a relatively small area with all the ensuing consequences, particularly for nearby residents.
The Town Council objected to this application earlier this year.
‘Excellent news’ stated Marlborough Councillor Lisa Farrell who has been at the front of the campaign against this development – with one petition alone (change.org) attracting a four figure ‘against’ number of signings in a very short period.
There were a range of reasons given for the refusal – it can be accessed and downloaded by clicking here – but this could be just the first stage were the applicants – McCarthy & Stone – to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. But to many in Marlborough, those on the Town Council, those who live near to this site and many others – and not least Wiltshire Council planners, this development would be unwelcome, and very unwelcome at that.
The decision to proceed to sell the area to McCarthy & Stone was made by Wiltshire’s Police Commissioner, we understand in April or May 2024. When this agreement to sell one of the town’s most contested sites, particularly to an unwelcome retirement complex developer was communicated to those in Marlborough – the Town Council – is unclear and as far as we can ascertain it was after the PCC’s re-election in early May 2024.
Next stage? We hope that McCarthy & Stone will withdraw and that the OPCC (Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner) will look for another developer, one who will provide Marlborough with the housing that it actually needs which was made clear in the current Marlborough Area Neighbourhood Plan (MANP) – for affordable or social housing (click here to read and/or download).
Marlborough St Mary’s pupils open LitFest with song
