Wiltshire Council has identified land near the Hilperton Relief Road for possible use for new houses, as part of the further 1,649 homes that need to be found in Trowbridge.

The council is looking for lands across Wiltshire to ensure the delivery of the Wiltshire Core Strategy housing requirement of at least 42,000 homes over the next 12 years.

Significant housing development has already taken place in the county since 2006, with 16,385 homes already built, and commitments for about 20,270 more.

However, a further 5,345 new homes need to be built in Wiltshire to meet overall housing requirements, with the council identifying land near the relief road for a possible 549 houses.

Resident George Bunting, who lives near Hilperton Gap, said: “It is important to alert people to the fact that there is this consultation period.

“This could shape Trowbridge for the next 10-15 years and I’m concerned about the possible high density of the housing as that could change the character of the area.”

The informal consultation and initial findings relating to the identification of housing allocations will close on March 31, with the outcome helping set the draft Housing Site Allocations Develop ment Plan document, which will be formally consulted on later this year.

Wiltshire councillor for Hilperton Ernie Clark said: “The whole process is flawed. Out of nearly 5,000 extra homes the council has to find, why are 1,649 coming from Trowbridge?

“The spatial planners seem to have their sights set on Trowbridge, despite the fact we have all the houses from Paxcroft down to West Ashton.

“I’ve said to people that it was inevitable that houses would be built on the Trowbridge side of the gap, but I didn’t expect it to happen until after 2026 when the local plan comes up for review.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “This is an early consultation looking at possible sites and we would encourage as many people as possible to have their say.”

To respond to the consultation, visit http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/planninganddevelopment/planningpolicy/wiltshsgsiteallocationsplansites.htm