Land at First Lane, Whitley, Melksham, SN12 8RL

1. 1.The application site is located outside the defined settlement boundary, within open countryside and forming part of open land separating Whitley and Shaw. The introduction of residential development would result in an urbanising encroachment into the countryside, eroding the open character of the land and its contribution towards maintaining the physical and visual separation and separate identities of Whitley and Shaw. The development would additionally result in harm to the significance of nearby Grade II listed buildings through development within their rural setting. Whilst the proposal would deliver two additional dwellings, including proposed self- build housing, these benefits would not outweigh the identified harms and development plan conflict. The proposal is therefore contrary to the aims of Core Policies 1, 2, 15, 51, 57 and 58 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy, Policies 6, 18, 19, 20 and 21 of the Joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan 2 and Policies S5, DP3, N2 and HE6 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2026).
2. 2.Insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that residential development of the site can be safely accommodated having regard to the identified fluvial and surface-water flood-risk constraints, without increasing flood risk on or off the site. In particular, the submitted information does not adequately demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation, exceedance-flow routing or safe access and egress. The Local Planning Authority is therefore unable to conclude that the site is suitable for residential development in principle or that the development can be accommodated having regard to existing or proposed infrastructure. The proposal consequently fails to demonstrate compliance with Core Policy 67 of the Wiltshire Core Strategy, Policy 3 of the Joint Melksham Neighbourhood Plan 2 and Policies S5 and F7 of the National Planning Policy Framework (2026).

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

SN12 8RL

Application type

Permission in Principle

Parish

Melksham Without CP

Date validated

22 September 2026

Case officer

Isobella Wise