PLANS for a 59 home development on greenfield behind the Malmesbury Primary Care Centre went on public display yesterday (24).

The proposals, which were part of the democratically adopted Malmesbury Neighbourhood Plan, will be spread across two sites on the south-eastern edge of the town at Burton Hill and were presented by Impact Planning Services.

On the northern first site, measuring nearly two acres in size, there will be 30 ‘independent living’ units for residents of 55-years or older.

Six will be one-bed flats, seven will be one-bed bungalows and the remaining 17 will be two-bed cottages.

The site will also contain a communal lounge, a warden’s office and flat, 30 residential parking spaces and six visitor spaces.

There will be a further 29 homes built on a larger southern second site, which will be almost four acres in size.

They will consist of six two-bed terraced houses, seven three-bed detached houses, 13 four-bed detached houses and three five-bed detached houses.

Six of the homes of the second site will be designated ‘affordable housing’, though this number has yet to be finalised.

Both sites are within walking distance to a pharmacy and the town centre as well as the nearby Waitrose.

A traffic calming scheme has been drawn up between Cole Easdon Consultants and Wiltshire Council which looks to tackle an existing speeding issue along Swindon Road (B4042), which runs alongside the site.

The plans include a new footway connection from the site towards the town centre and a ‘refuge island’ to help people crossing the road outside the development.

The new homes have been set a target of having a code level six rating by the Building Research Establishment (BRE), the independent advisory body on building quality. This rating would mean the homes would have exceptionally low emissions and a high level of energy efficiency.

The overall plans for the site are only outline proposals at this point and are yet to be finalised for final submission.

Robert Gillespie, managing director of Impact, said the consultation provide them with some “extremely useful comments”.

“We were very pleased with the turnout,” he said. “There were around 60 people in total and we were happy that people understood what we were trying to achieve.

“There was noticeable support for the provision of independent living for older persons and housing for families as well.

“There was concern about the detail but that’s the next stage.”

Anneliese Bushnell lives nearby in Storey Mews. Speaking about the plans, she said: “We're quite disappointed by this plan having been told when purchasing there would only potentially be 14 houses in the field behind us.

“It's a small road with no pavement or footpath and already not enough parking for current residents and cars parked on the road.

“The access to the 29 new houses is directly in front of my house and I am often blocked in my driveway by inconsiderate parking from visitors or workmen in particular – this will directly impact me.”

Another resident who lives nearby is Alison Cross-Jones said the site looked “well-planned” and was pleased the properties would have a code-level six rating.

She said: “I was pleasantly surprised when I was told the builds would be aiming for code-level six.

“It is almost unheard of in the world of development today. This is wonderful.”

Cllr Roger Budgen, chair of planning and environment committee on Malmesbury Town Council, has been working with the planners and local residents to try and shape the outline planning application for the site.

He said: “By and large we are pleased with what they’ve come up with.

“We think there are still some highway issues relating to the entrance into the southern site, but that’s an issue we’ll have to take up with Wiltshire Council Highways.”