NEW government plans to loosen planning laws in rural areas have received a mixed response in Wiltshire.

Under new plans unveiled by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne last week, developers will be able to build on previously unused land in areas like Wiltshire. This will make it easier for villages in England to build new starter homes.

The starter homes scheme offers first-time buyers a 20 per cent discount on the price of properties on homes up to £250,000 in areas like Wiltshire.

The plans announced by the Chancellor last week aim to help boost the number of available affordable houses in the area and tackle the shortage of homes in rural communities.

He also said he wanted to improve schools, transport and broadband in areas such as Wiltshire to boost rural economies.

Sue Poole, who sits on the planning committee on the Malmesbury Town Council and is an ex-mayor of the town, was appalled to hear the news.

“If you build lots of houses in rural locations attached to villages, surely they are no longer rural locations that people want to live in,” she said.

“The more you build in the countryside, the less you have. You’re destroying the environment people want to live in.

“What the Chancellor has announced is very simplistic. It will not solve the problem and stands contrary to his own governments own local agenda of putting more power in hands of locals.

“Planning decisions should be taken locally.

“One problem we have is second home syndrome, where small cottages are bought up by people living in London and used as weekend homes.

“House prices go up as a result and are not available for young people need somewhere to live.

“They have to move out to Chippenham just to find somewhere to live.”

Jonathon Seed, cabinet member for housing and Wiltshire Council member, was more positive about the plans. He said: “We welcome the news from the Chancellor which sets out how more starter homes can be created in local communities.

“We are already working on a major building programme to create affordable housing so people are not priced out of living locally and this Government initiative will help boost this programme.”

“We’re very keen to see new housing developed in the countryside and particularly keen to see it developed around our villages.

“There is clearly a lot of detail we will have to study but from what we can see we will be able to maintain control over potential developments.

“It is an exciting time for housing development.”