Appeal hearing set for major housing development in Calne

: Written by: Lucy Townend; Published: 09 January 2025

AN appeal hearing for previously rejected plans to build nearly 100 homes, a convenience store, and a nursery on land east of Spitfire Road in Calne will be held on 21st January.

The application was originally submitted in November 2022 following an online public consultation where objections were raised, one Calne resident said at the time: "Enough already! Go build somewhere else, Calne has too many houses not enough services."

Another resident, Leigh Randell said: "This site should not be considered at all. The area of brook at this site all ready suffers from considerable flooding with us spending most of Autumn/Winter 2021/2022 under water.

"There have been 2 separate instances of the escape of sewage into Abberd Brook from near the pumping station that would have to deal with the sewage at this site. (Both reported to EA)

"The pumping station can’t cope with the current demand as it is either. Also the road is unsafe and more housing along with the lorry’s that all ready use it and the opening off the Prince Charles Drive connection is a recipe for disaster.

"This road could probably become as busy as some of the busiest in Calne due to use as a rat run.

Adding more houses at this site will increase the flooding, and put homes further down the brook and the town at risk. It also removes natural hunting ground for red kites, owls including the barn owl and foxes."

Calne Town Council and Calne Without Parish Council resolved to object to the plans saying the application contravened core policies and that the application falls outside of the Framework Boundary and is not allocated as a site for housing in the Neighbourhood Plan.

Adding that; 'Calne is not required to build any more houses as the town has met its housing target - members note tha Calne is already 700 houses over the required number of developments in 2026.'

The council also pointed out that the level of recent development in Calne has left 'a serious issue with infrastructure in the town' and this application would worsen the situation - 'specifically, there is a real concern that no additional doctors and dentists have been provided to address the additional housing numbers and residents are already experiencing issues in accessing medical and dental provision in the town.'

In March 2023 Wiltshire Council refused the applicaiton stating that the proposal was contrary to multiple policies in the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

The case officer report said : “The application proposal has not demonstrated that no ecological harm will result, and insufficient information has been provided to approve the application at this outline stage.

"Issues of noise, odour and dust impacts arising from the immediate neighbour at Abberd Fields Farm have not been appropriately considered and addressed, resulting in a maintained objection from the Public Protection Officer.”

The conclusion was that the identified harm of approving the development, outweighed the benefits 'particulary in light of the fact the council can at the current time, demonstrate sufficient supply of housing land.'

The decision to deny planning permission for both applications will now be appealed at an inquiry to be held on 21st January at Monkton Park in Chippenham.

The Calne Town Council’s Planning, Licensing and Highways Consultative Committee and interested Councillors are invited along to a workshop on 13th January at 10.30 at Bank House in Calne and any interested residents who wish to contribute towards the submission at the hearing are welcome.

Additionally, the inquiry in Chippenham is to be held as an in-person event - members of the public may attend the Inquiry and, at the Inspector’s discretion, express their views. Please contact Wiltshire Council in advance to confirm your interest in attending the Inquiry should you wish to observe or speak by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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