Local News · Trowbridge
Proposed 205-home Melksham development faces calls for new A365 roundabout
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Highways officers have requested a new roundabout and improved cycling links for a major housing scheme planned near Melksham Oak Community School.
A major housing development earmarked for land off Bath Road in Melksham is set to undergo significant scrutiny, as highways authorities demand safety improvements to accommodate the project. The proposal, submitted by Swindon-based Hannick Homes and Developments, seeks permission to build up to 205 homes on a 29-acre site bordering Melksham Oak Community School.
While the land was previously allocated for roughly 135 dwellings in the emerging Wiltshire Local Plan, the current application represents an increase of 70 homes. This expansion has prompted Wiltshire Council to intervene, with highways officers stipulating that any approval must include substantial infrastructure mitigation.
A key requirement from the council is the construction of a new roundabout at the site's access point on the A365. Kimberly Corps, Wiltshire Council’s head of transport policy and strategy, stated that the roundabout would provide a safer environment for road users and assist in calming traffic on the eastern edge of the town.
Beyond the roundabout, officials are also pushing for improved pedestrian and cycling facilities along Bath Road to create better links towards the school. The developer is currently investigating these requests, and the final outcome of these negotiations remains pending.
The application has drawn attention from local representatives due to the scale of the increase over the initial allocation and concerns regarding traffic flow. While Melksham Town Council opted not to lodge a formal objection, it has signalled its support for the concerns raised by Melksham Without Parish Council, particularly regarding affordable housing, student access to the neighbouring school and the long-term protection of land reserved for future school expansion.
Wiltshire Council’s highways team has noted that it holds no objection in principle to the scheme, provided these mitigation measures are incorporated. The project sits within a wider area of development pressure in eastern Melksham, where emerging plans suggest as many as 1,000 additional homes could eventually be delivered.
As the application remains undecided, the developer must now determine whether to amend the plans to satisfy the council's infrastructure requirements. No date has been confirmed for the final planning decision.
Source: Wiltshire Times · View original