Further houses will be allowed to be built on land off Filands Road in Malmesbury, a planning inspector has ruled.

Permission for 180 houses and provision of a primary school was granted to Gleeson Strategic Land back in 2013. The site was subsequently bought by Bloor Homes.

Bloor submitted three planning applications: one to discharge the obligation for the primary school, one to build 78 extra houses on the site and one to build 70 extra houses but also include land for a nursery.

A planning inquiry was then held in November and December after Bloor appealed after their applications were not determined in time.

While it was primarily between Bloor Homes and Wiltshire Council, Malmesbury Town Council and The Malmesbury Civic Trust also took part under what is known as Rule 6 status.

Planning inspector Owen Woodwards accepted the third appeal, meaning around 70 more houses can be built on the site.

The dismissal of the other appeals means land for a nursery, but not a primary school, must be included. This has been set at 0.3 hectares - more than the 0.2ha Bloor had said was required.

In his decision Mr Woodwards wrote: "A primary school is not required at the appeal site at the present time.

"I consider that there remains a need to safeguard land for nursery provision and that the amount of land required to be safeguarded for that purpose should be 0.3 ha."

In relation to the extra houses he said: "Wiltshire Council as a whole is failing to meet its housing land supply requirement.

"The marginal over-provision in Malmesbury does not weigh heavily against this."

In a Facebook post Gavin Grant, who represents Malmesbury on Wiltshire Council, said he was sad that Bloor had 'got their way'.

"Neither site was in our voted through Neighbourhood Plan," he said.

"The only crumb of comfort is the Inspector agreed that we needed more space than Bloor were offering for a new pre-school nursery.

"Many thanks to my town council colleagues Kim Power and Campbell Ritchie for all their effort and for this small victory.

"I was delighted to join them to support the battle to defend the right and principle of local communities planning their own futures."