Plans for 135 homes in Laverstock scaled back by developers

Hallam Land Management originally submitted an application for 135 homes in 2021, but this scheme has now been reduced to up to 50 homes. 

It comes after years of strong opposition from residents and the Laverstock and Ford Parish Council. 

Nick Baker, Chairman of the Laverstock and Ford Parish Council, has said he is "very disappointed" by the timing of the application, and that he hopes it is thrown out by planning inspectors. 

The refreshed plans are for up-to 50 dwellings and accesses from Church Road, by means of a new road, and other, more pedestrian-focused policies, such as: 

• A £50 cycle voucher per household.

• Incentives for people to travel by bus to and from Church Road.

• Provision of an on-site e-bike hub. The originally proposed 10 e-Bikes, have been reduced to four, in accordance with the reduction of housing.

• Provision of an e-car club vehicle; and two bus shelters on Church Road. 

This plan outlines the proposed plan for the site, which will have two distinct development parcels and keep the greenspace in between.

The planned layout would, it is claimed, “sensitively respond to the landscape context”. 

Financial contributions would also be made to nearby secondary schools to accommodate the anticipated rise in student population; as well as projects providing alternative recreational spaces. 

Cllr Nick Baker told the Journal: “The Parish Council will consider this revised plan at our meeting on March 18 and all residents are welcome to attend. Personally, I am very disappointed by the timing of this application.

“The proposal to include 50 houses on this site in the latest draft of the Wiltshire Council Local Plan (without any prior consultation) has been strongly contested by the Parish Council and many local residents."

Mr Baker previously said that including Church Road as a site for major development would be "fundamentally undemocratic."

He added: "We have yet to see whether Wiltshire Council will include this flawed policy in the final draft of the plan which goes to the independent planning inspector later this year and if they do I am hopeful that it will be removed by the inspector.” 

Mr Baker added: “For the developers to submit a planning application based on the local plan before the authority has finalised it and it has been submitted to the inspector is in my view premature." 

To view the application, click here.