Politics & Council · Warminster
Fresh backlash against plans for 41 homes below Westbury White Horse
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Residents and local authorities are ramping up their opposition to a controversial housing development proposed for land directly beneath the iconic Westbury White Horse.
A long-running planning dispute regarding a proposed housing development at the foot of the Westbury White Horse has seen a resurgence of local opposition as the public consultation period nears its end. The proposal, which was first submitted in 2022, seeks outline permission for up to 41 dwellings on land off Bratton Road.
Developers Manor and Auckland Farms have described the 2.3-hectare site as a logical extension to the north-east of Westbury. Their planning statement suggests the development is a sustainable location within easy reach of local services, offering a mixture of market and affordable housing. The applicants also claim the scheme has been designed to minimise impact through retained hedgerows, wildlife corridors and biodiversity enhancements, including a separate 2.5-hectare habitat site near Knook.
However, the project has drawn significant criticism from Westbury Town Council, local residents and heritage campaigners. The Town Council has formally objected to the plans, labelling them the wrong development in the wrong location and pointing out that the site lies outside the town's existing settlement boundary. Further concerns raised by the council include potential traffic congestion, impacts on archaeology and conflicts with established neighbourhood planning policies.
South West Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison has also joined the chorus of opposition, lodging a formal objection based on the visual harm the houses would cause to the setting of the White Horse. He also highlighted the potential for increased pressure on local infrastructure, including already busy roads, GP surgeries, dental practices and schools.
Residents have expressed particular concern regarding the preservation of the historic landscape. Many argue that constructing homes beneath the landmark would permanently alter the character of the site for future generations, while others have raised specific environmental concerns regarding local populations of birds, bats and reptiles.
The developers maintain that the scheme is designed to accommodate future connections to land held by Barratt Homes and should be considered as the first phase of a coordinated wider housing strategy. They argue that the site is identified for potential allocation under Policy 62 of Wiltshire Council's emerging Local Plan, suggesting it could provide significant tax and planning contributions to the area.
As the consultation period concludes, the decision remains in the hands of Wiltshire Council, which is expected to weigh the need for new housing against the impact on one of the county's most prominent landmarks and the concerns of the local community.
Source: Wiltshire Times — Warminster · View original