Plans to build 71 homes in Malmesbury could be ‘called in’ by secretary of state

Wiltshire Council’s Strategic Planning Committee was recommended by officers to approve a plan by Gleeson Homes to build 71 houses on land south of Filands, and agreed to do so.

The plans were discussed on Wednesday (May 27), when the meeting heard Malmesbury Town Council was against the scheme and dozens of locals had written in protest, pointing out the land is not included for housing in their Neighbourhood Plan.

It's believed that following representations, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick MP has told Wiltshire Council he is thinking about calling in this application for a review.

The Secretary of State has the power to 'call in' a planning application for review, but must have grounds to exercise that power.

One of those representations is believed to be a letter from Malmesbury mayor Campbell Ritchie.

Speaking after the decision, he said: “This has only happened because the government has recently changed national planning rules and Wiltshire Council has failed to maintain a five-year supply of land.

“But there is more than a five-year land supply in North Wiltshire and we have met - and more - all that has been asked of us in Malmesbury.

“I cannot pretend that the decision by the committee does not seriously damage our Malmesbury Neighbourhood Plan and the Neighbourhood Plans of every other community in Wiltshire that deal with housing matters.”

As a result of notifying Wiltshire Council that the Secretary of State is considering these representations, Wiltshire have formally suspended the process of granting the application.

That suspension would stay in place should the Secretary of State "call in" the application.

Should he decide not to do that then the suspension would be lifted and the applicant granted their permission.

Wiltshire Council Cllr for Malmesbury Gavin Grant said: "The people of Malmesbury have made it clear that they back our Neighbourhood Plan that has and will see 1,000 new homes here.

"We have rejected before and still reject any unwanted building on this greenfield site. It is vital that residents speak out now.

"Please ask the Secretary of State to call in this application to review the permission granted to build.

"We have very strong planning arguments on our side to reject this application.

"Four members of the planning committee agreed with us but sadly seven did not. This is still the wrong decision on the wrong site.

"I am confident that an independent review would back us and throw out this application.

"We have one final chance to halt the dire decision to allow the housing development at Filands South, that breaks our Neighbourhood Plan.

"If you want to back our local plan and make your voice known, please act now!

"Following representations, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick MP has told Wiltshire Council he is thinking about calling in this application for a review.

"If that happens, the review could overturn the approval decision.

"Please email the Secretary of State today at https://forms.communities.gov.uk/.

"Urge him to call in the planning application 19/11569/OUT Malmesbury decision for review.

"Tell him it breaks the made Malmesbury Neighbourhood Plan, that it breaks a large number of Wiltshire Council's core planning policies particularly on climate change, that there is no shortage of housing development land in the north and west housing market area of Wiltshire and that Malmesbury is already taking 200 more houses than we are required to. Thank you."