ANGRY residents say the proposed plans to build on greenfield land in their village are ‘wholly inappropriate’.

Recently, Wiltshire Council released its Local Plan which includes proposals for the development of more than 1000 houses around the city.

Residents in Laverstock are facing 50 houses in Church Road but this would override the neighbourhood plan which is already in place.

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Chair of the Milford Area Preservation Group, David Lovibond said: “My view is that the proposed allocation of land for housing at this location is wholly inappropriate.

“This is a greenfield site in open countryside which is much valued by local people. The land has been identified as archaeologically significant, with artefacts and buried features dating from the Neolithic. The proposed 50 houses will have an impact on the nearby Cocky Down SSSI.”

In addition to concerns about sites of special scientific interest (SSSI), there are concerns about traffic congestion, in particular, during the times when school children are taken to school and collected.

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David said: “Additional cars generated by this development can only exacerbate the problem. Cars have already increased by 40 per cent in 10 years.”

In the proposal, it notes a variety of dwelling types including a significant proportion of affordable homes and vehicular access from Church Road. 

The council’s cabinet members will be meeting on Tuesday, July 11 to discuss the proposals within the Local Plan.

David said: “I have heard that the Local Plan trumps the neighbourhood plan, and that Laverstock will no longer be a small village but a part of Salisbury."

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He mentioned the battle that had taken place previously when hundreds of houses had been planned in the area.   

He said: “This is not a brownfield site. They can’t just override 500 objections from the previous proposal. I think they are trying to wedge the door open for more houses.”

He added: “Approval of this proposal would undermine the principles of localism and community engagement in the planning process as set out in the Localism Act 2011.”

Wiltshire Council's Local Plan sets out the vision and framework for housing, infrastructure, and land suitable for employment growth identifying sites for housing and employment development until 2038.