At Monday (13 November) evening’s meeting of the Planning Committee of the Town Council, Councillors voted overwhelmingly to object to the section of the Wiltshire Council ‘Local Plan’ that in effect proposed a further 370 new homes to be built within the Marlborough town boundary area, an extra 305 beyond the number identified in the Marlborough Area Neighbourhood Plan that has been accepted by the Marlborough community (by referendum) and also by Wiltshire Council itself.
It’s not too late to consult (and give your opinion). The Consultation Period for the ‘Local Plan’ closes on Wednesday next week (22nd November). See recent piece regarding the Local Plan and Marlborough.
An issue of ‘definitions’? Or maths? (adding up issue within the Local Authority?). Or is Wiltshire Council being way out of tune with Marlborough, and no-one has visited this area actually to have a look at it.
Whatever the reason, the strong reaction from the Town Council was worded thus: ‘Marlborough Town Council has strong objections as outlined above to the proposed number of homes and the two locations at Chopping Knife Lane and Barton Dean. It supports in principle 40% of new developments to be affordable homes. The Town Council would prefer to see plans focusing on brownfield sites or extending existing settlements where possible.’
The Council’s response was qualified by the following reasons, as detaied i the meeting’s m:
- Strong objections to the proposed housing site at Chopping Knife Lane, which had been removed from the draft Marlborough Area Neighbourhood Plan (MANP) following many objections from residents. There were concerns about vehicle access, increased traffic on roads already at capacity, lack of safe walking or cycling routes, the setting within the North Wessex Downs AONB, building on a green field site and the threat to the nearby River Kennet, an internationally recognised important chalk stream.
- Water: the local plan recognises that Marlborough Treatment Plant’s capacity to treat sewage is already inadequate and a wastewater upgrade will be required.
- Action for the River Kennet had raised strong objections about the proximity of new homes to the River Kennet and the potential wastewater issues with sewage discharging into the river.
- The site at Barton Dean had received many objections from residents and Preshute Parish Council, resulting in the Parish withdrawing from the MANP.
- The Marlborough Area Neighbourhood Plan, made in March 2023 after 6 years of consultation and approved by residents, identified an additional 65 homes in 3 locations plus an additional medical facility. The Local Plan increased this to 600 new homes, of which 230 were not already developed, under development or approved/within the planning process. This was an unacceptable number.
- With few employment opportunities within the town, the increase in population would result in the majority of new residents needing to travel elsewhere for employment, impacting already congested road.
- A strong preference to find locations on brown field sites or to extend existing settlements rather than build on greenfield sites.
- The Town Council had recently declared a housing emergency, and the 40% allocation to affordable housing was welcomed.
Maybe Wiltshire Council’s team were actually looking at Marlborough New Zealand, or even Marlborough Massachusetts. Looking to find space and supportive infrastructure for a further three hundred plus homes in this actual town, they might as well have been.