Plans for 450 Chippenham homes slammed over 'lack of shops'

The plans for phase two of the Rawlings Green development were submitted last month and would see the creation of 454 homes at Rawlings Farm, Chippenham.

A separate application for phase one of the scheme, consisting of 196 homes, is already under consideration by Wiltshire Council.

Developers Summix and Crest Nicholson have already obtained outline planning permission for the whole development and are now seeking approval on reserved matters.

Alongside 650 homes, the project would create a link road via a new railway bridge, commercial buildings, a care home, and a country park.

But Chippenham Town Council has objected to the plans for a range of reasons, the “most damning” of which is the omission of a local centre with shops to serve the estate.

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The Rawlings Green site (Image: Barton Willmore) Cllr Nick Murry said: “Where is the local centre that was part of the outline permission? It’s a key point that is needed for local shops and community services.

“It’s neither fair to the new residents who will lack these facilities nor Monkton Park residents who will experience additional traffic as people drive through the estate to access these services.

“Why has the employment land that was part of the outline permission been reduced? Local employment reduces traffic, which is one of the key concerns of my residents.”

Cllr Matthew Short added the application had not taken into account the Chippenham Neighbourhood Plan which was adopted this year.

He said: “I think it’s absolutely outrageous… many of us spent years working on it and to have no mention whatsoever of any policies is so dispiriting.

“We all know that building without local services is something people are passionate about and creates a car-dominant environment.

“We should object strongly to this.”

Plans for Rawlings Green (Image: Crest Nicholson Operations Ltd and Summix Ltd) A resident of Rawlings Farm also raised concerns about the impact of the development on her property during the meeting.

But the applicants’ design and access statement insists the development would benefit the community.

It said: “The site proposal will deliver a sustainable development through the incorporation of various elements.

“Alongside the new market homes for sale, the development would deliver a number of new affordable homes within a range of tenures.

“These new affordable homes will benefit households who are waiting on the housing register and those wishing to buy their first home.”

Wiltshire Council is due to determine the application in January 2025.