THREE houses will be built in the garden of a home in Shrewton after councillors approved plans.

The application by Landmark Estates includes one four-bedroom house and a pair of semi-detached three-bedroom homes on land at Grove House, Maddingon Street. The plans, which include a total of seven parking spaces, went before the Southern Area Planning Committee last Tuesday.

Shrewton Parish Council objected to the plans and there were around 15 letters of objection from residents. Among the concerns raised were that it was an overdevelopment of the site, it would lead to loss of light, cause drainage issues, and the existing access was insufficient.

Councillors heard a flint and timber barn on the site which contains roosting bats would remain on the site but a timber stable block nearby would be taken down. Planning officers recommended the application for approval saying it was in a sustainable location for new residential development.

Nine councillors voted in favour of the plans with two abstentions.

Councillor Ian Smale said: “There were no objections from Wiltshire Highways, the ecologists or the Environment Agency and there were no concerns raised over drainage issues or from Wessex Water. I looked through the list of complaints from the people and obviously they’re all very up in arms about it but in all honesty I can’t see any reason why not to support the motion.”

And committee chairman Fred Westmoreland said: “Once you actually see the size of the plot, it is clear there is room for this development. I haven’t any objection on the design, I can’t find any objection on the plot size and any objection I might have had on flooding and roads is cut out from under my feet by the fact the statutory bodies have no objections.

“That’s why I believe we can’t resist this one. It is simply another space being filled.”

The application number for the site is 16/11817/FUL.