Politics & Council · Marlborough
Marlborough 'mini mansion' plan faces council decision after conservation backlash
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
A proposal for a five-bedroom house in the protected North Wessex Downs faces a council vote, with campaigners arguing the 'scaled-down mansion' is unsuitable for the landscape.
A decision on a controversial housing proposal near Marlborough is set to be made this month as councillors prepare to vote on a contentious plan for a 'mini mansion' in the countryside. Hadleigh Agriculture Ltd is seeking planning permission to construct a two-storey house on land located south-east of Manton Park Farmhouse, a site that lies within the protected North Wessex Downs National Landscape.
The application, which has been described by critics as a 'scaled-down Georgian mansion', will be considered by the Wiltshire Council Eastern Area Planning Committee on Thursday, October 15. The proposed five-bedroom property is intended to serve as a home for a racehorse trainer working at the Manton Park estate.
The development has faced significant opposition from conservation groups, including the North Wessex Downs National Landscape Partnership and CPRE Wiltshire. Objectors argue that the scale, massing and design of the proposed dwelling are inappropriate for the rural location. Concerns have also been raised regarding the lack of a formal needs assessment to justify the necessity of a standalone rural worker's dwelling at this site.
CPRE Wiltshire has characterised the scheme as an 'unjustified, unsustainable intrusion into a protected landscape', noting that the applicant already holds permission for a trainer's house elsewhere on the estate. The current proposal includes a legal agreement that would see that existing permission permanently relinquished if the new project is approved.
Wiltshire Council’s own assessment acknowledges that the development would result in 'moderate localised landscape harm', particularly for those walking along a nearby public footpath. However, planning officers have recommended the scheme for approval. They suggest that the impact can be mitigated through the existing woodland setting, new planting and design amendments.
The current bid is a revised version of an application that was refused by the council in August 2024 due to issues concerning landscape impact, ecology and the proposed legal agreement. While the applicant maintains that the new location offers superior screening and supports the attraction and retention of high-quality staff, council officers have noted a lack of detailed financial or functional evidence to demonstrate an essential requirement for a dwelling in this specific rural position.
The matter was called before the planning committee by Marlborough West councillor Jane Davies, who cited concerns over the project’s environmental impact and its place within the protected landscape. Councillors will weigh these objections against the officer recommendation to grant approval when they meet later this month.
Source: Wiltshire Times · View original