Politics & Council · Wiltshire-wide
Countryside campaigners challenge Wiltshire's 'car-based' housing expansion
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
A leading campaigner has criticised the scale of housing development in Wiltshire, warning that reliance on car-dependent estates is harming the county's character.
A countryside campaigner has issued a stark warning regarding the pace and nature of housing development in Wiltshire, describing a surge of out-of-town housing estates as an enormous rash that threatens the county's rural identity.
Ken McCall, representing the West Wiltshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), raised his concerns during a full council meeting on Tuesday, October 20. He challenged the leadership of Wiltshire Council over the current trajectory of regional planning, arguing that new developments are increasingly homogenised and car-dependent.
Addressing council leader Ian Thorn, Mr McCall suggested that the character of Wiltshire's historic market towns and landscapes is being eroded by a cycle of new road networks, roundabouts and expansive car parks. He expressed concern that recent planning decisions have led to environments that could be anywhere, losing the distinct rural charm that historically attracts visitors to the region.
The debate highlighted growing tension over the Government's national housing requirements. According to the CPRE, Wiltshire's annual housing target has effectively doubled to 3,500 homes per year. Mr McCall criticised the Government's standard method for calculating these figures, suggesting the process fails to account for essential local infrastructure such as public transport connectivity, employment opportunities and the environmental impact of commuting.
In his response, Councillor Ian Thorn acknowledged the validity of the concerns raised. He admitted that the current housing targets imposed by the Government are extraordinarily difficult to sustain and evidence. Cllr Thorn noted that the council is eager to move away from what he described as doughnuting, a pattern of development where housing expands around the periphery of towns rather than densifying existing urban areas.
The council leader outlined an intent to prioritise the development of brownfield sites where possible, though he conceded that some greenfield construction remains inevitable to meet required housing volumes. He stated his commitment to ongoing dialogue with central government to ensure ministers remain informed about the specific challenges Wiltshire faces in attempting to balance the need for new homes with the preservation of the local economy and environment.
The discussion serves as a point of contention for local residents, as several major projects, including the Ashton Park development near Trowbridge, remain in the pipeline despite having already received planning permission. These sites represent a significant portion of the future housing landscape, keeping the issue of land use at the forefront of local political discourse.
Source: Swindon Advertiser - Politics · View original