A DECISION to allow three new houses to be built in a housing restraint area “makes a mockery” of planning policy, according to a member of the committee that agreed the scheme.

Wiltshire Council’s southern area planning committee approved an application to demolish a bungalow at Heatherfield in Oak Drive, Alderbury, and build three houses in its place at a meeting held yesterday.

Five of the nine committee members voted to approve the application but councillor Richard Britton, along with fellow committee member cllr Leo Randall, asked for his objection to be put on record.

Cllr Britton felt the decision was not in line with a policy H19, which states development should only be permitted if there is no adverse impact on the character of the settlement or neighbourhood.

He said a previous application for a single house in Oak Drive was refused because it would affect the “sylvan nature” of the area and the same reason should have been applied to this application.

Several residents attended the meeting to speak against the application and afterwards warned other villages that their housing restraint areas could be lost next.

Jo Alford, who lives near the site, said: “This sets a precedent for all other housing restraint areas to be ruined in the same way. It’s building on a field, so what’s to stop them building on other fields outside the housing area. What is the point of H19 if you’re not going to follow what it says?”

Concerns were also raised about an access that will be built onto Lights Lane for two of the houses, but no objections were made by the Highways Agency.

Planning officers recommended that the application be approved.

Cllr John Smale said most of the concerns raised seemed to have been overcome by amendments and cllr Fred Westmoreland said his belief was that there would be development on the site at some stage and he was relieved that it was three houses and not an estate.