Middlehill House, Middlehill, Box, Corsham, SN13 8QS

1. 1.The proposed pool and gym building, by reason of its substantial scale, height, massing and detached siting approximately 39 metres from Middlehill House, would constitute a substantial new building within the Green Belt. Although its proposed use would be ancillary to the dwellinghouse, the building would not constitute an extension or alteration of an existing building for the purposes of Policy GB7.1(b) of the National Planning Policy Framework. The development does not fall within any other exception under Policy GB7, including the exception for redevelopment of previously developed land, as it would introduce significant built form onto an area presently open in spatial terms and would cause substantial harm to the openness of the Green Belt. The proposal therefore constitutes inappropriate development which is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt. Substantial weight is afforded to that harm, and no very special circumstances have been demonstrated which clearly outweigh the harm by reason of inappropriateness and the additional harm to openness. The proposal is therefore contrary to Policies GB6 and GB7 of the NPPF.
2. 2.The proposed development fails to demonstrate that it would avoid harm to biodiversity interests and protected species that may be present on or near the site. In the absence of proposed mitigation, the local planning authority cannot be satisfied that the proposal would not have a significant adverse effect on biodiversity. As such, the development is contrary to Core Policy 50 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy (2015) and Policies N2 of the NPPF.
3. 3.The proposed development fails to demonstrate that it would avoid harm to arboricultural interests that may be present on or near the site. In the absence of an appropriate survey, the local planning authority cannot be satisfied that the proposal would not have a significant adverse effect on the arboriculture, which is located within the Middlehill Conservation Area. As such, the development is contrary to saved policy NE14 to the North Wiltshire Local Plan and Policy N2.1.d. of the NPPF.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

SN13 8QS

Application type

Householder planning permission

Scale / size

Small

Parish

Box CP

Date validated

10 July 2026

Consultation expiry

7 August 2026

Consultation end

7 August 2026

Target decision date

4 September 2026

Case officer

Gemma Thorp

Statutory period

56 days

Documents

8