AN appeal has been lodged in a bid to resurrect a plan for 34 new homes off Restrop Road in Purton.

The plan, by Persimmon Homes, was called in by Wiltshire Council in October last year and rejected.

The developers argued that the lack of an updated neighbourhood plan meant a five-year housing supply for the area could not be proved, so their scheme should have been allowed.

However, opponents of the plans have said they are attempting to pre-empt the emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy, which is currently being examined.

Wiltshire councillor Jacqui Lay said of the previous application: “The site is outside of the settlement boundary of the village therefore is contrary to the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 for development of this kind.

“The plan will inform the emerging Neighbourhood Plan and on the wish list is a new access into Bradon Forest School, to help relieve the traffic congestion in the village and reduce traffic volumes using the housing estate to access the school currently.

“A route passing through the land at Restrop is seen as the solution therefore the village needs to be ensuring that all the land owners in this area are on board with this solution and having a constructive dialogue to achieve this new road.

“The parish profile shows that car ownership is above the national and Wiltshire averages, hence we need to show sufficient provision on site for parking for residents and their visitors.

“The village has a parking problem which is not addressed on the site and will only add to an existing problem nearby.

“The site together with land close by are potentially key sites in the development of Purton in the future and the correct development for the village should be considered in tune with the Neighbourhood Plan.”

Dr Richard Pagett, of Purton, said some issues inherent in emerging housing developments could be avoided if work on the neighbourhood plan picks up pace.

“I have always argued that Purton should have been allowed to have its own plan, not be part of an assemblage of parishes with relatively little in common,” he said.

“The reason for aggregating the parishes was simply a financial one, taken by Wiltshire Council.

“If we had been allowed to develop our own plan, I am sure it would be in place by now and we would able to dictate the future of Purton far more effectively.

“Probably one of the more challenging aspects of any neighbourhood plan would be whether or not the settlement boundary should be changed.

“If enlargement is to be considered then that is supposed to be considered through the neighbourhood planning process.

“Currently, Purton’s chapter to the aggregated neighbourhood plan reflects the findings of the parish plan, that there should be no change to the existing settlement boundary.

“Although there is still ongoing debate as to whether or not this is a sustainable position for Purton in the longer term.”