North Wiltshire MP James Gray has written to the secretary of state requesting a call in of the controversial Filands South application in Malmesbury.

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 back in May.

Normally developments under 200 houses would be decided by the planning committee, but this one went to Strategic Planning because Wiltshire Council’s lack of a five-year land supply scheme means the shortfall has become an issue across the county as a whole.

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

Mr Gray has raised his concerns about the way which Five Year Housing Land supply figures are being used to justify planning applications which he says would not normally be accepted.

These concerns have increased over recent weeks, and Mr Gray is worried that the supply figures cut against democratic processes and prevents decisions being taken locally, as was seen in Malmesbury.

Mr Gray wrote to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick MP, to stress his views and highlight the need for a review of these processes.

He wrote: “I am very concerned about the way in which the Five Year Housing Land supply figures are being used in Wiltshire to justify planning applications which would not otherwise be allowed.

"I have written to you ask you to call in two recent permissions granted for large numbers of houses in Malmesbury (contravening their hard won Neighbourhood Plan) and in Lyneham.

"The Local Housing Need for Wiltshire is currently 2024 homes per annum, compared to the Core Strategy Figure of 2100 homes over the period 2006 to 2026.

"That would seem to me to indicate that we have achieved the targets (perfectly legitimately) set by central government for the provision of new housing.

"Yet you have recently concluded that for apparently technical reasons, Wiltshire has not achieved that target, thereby allowing these applications to pass.

"Matters such as whether or not land on which planning permission has been granted but which the developer has not yet earmarked for development, for example, raise significant questions over the way the FYHLS figures can be manipulated to the benefit of the developer.

"I think you are currently considering the criteria for the calculation of the 5 year housing land supply figure.

"I would be glad to know the details of your plans for that review.

"I know that the leader of Wiltshire Council would also be glad to assist, and perhaps, for example to use Wiltshire as an exemplar.”