Plans for new housing development in Royal Wootton Bassett

The Templars Way housing development in Royal Wootton Bassett is being proposed by developer Richborough, and if plans go ahead it will be built in the fields next to Marlborough Road, in the south of the town.

The developer’s current proposals are for 95 homes with a range of sizes and tenures, landscaped public open space, a natural play area for children, allotments, ecology enhancement areas and sustainable drainage.

This would be spread across 7.5 hectares to the south of the current Templars Way Industrial Estate, and the site is not located within the green belt.

The fields where Richborough hope to build are just south of the Templars Way Industrial Estate (Image: Google Maps)

A formal planning application is set to be submitted to Wiltshire Council in August 2024, but keen to get the ball rolling already, Richborough has asked for Royal Wootton Bassett locals to be the first to have their say.

“The site is located just south of Royal Wootton Bassett’s settlement boundary and built edge and it is surrounded by commercial and residential development to its north, east and south,” said a spokesperson for Richborough.

“Before the planning application is submitted at the end of Summer 2024, we are consulting with local residents and businesses on the proposals.

“The consultation website provides a summary of the proposals and offers residents the opportunity to provide their thoughts on the proposed development, allowing Richborough and their consultant team to shape the formal planning submission to Wiltshire Council.”

Residents and local businesses have until August 16 to share their thoughts, but many have already taken to social media to voice initial concerns.

“If more and more homes are built we could do with more surgeries and schools too, but that gets forgotten,” wrote Bassett resident Carol Johnstone.

“Again, more housing and no further infrastructure. How are we as a market town going to cope?” added Evelyn Smith.

The proposed site plan for the new Templars Way housing development. (Image: Richborough)

Others have pointed out that the proposed site is near the Royal Wootton Bassett Sewage Treatment Works, which could potentially cause localised odours.

But Richborough says it is aware of this and a comprehensive odour assessment has been conducted to evaluate this risk.

"A setback distance from the Sewage Treatment Works further reduces the potential for odour detection on-site," said a spokesperson for Richborough.

"Consequently, the risk of odour is low, and no specific mitigation measures are needed."