BUILDING new houses in the gardens of existing ones is threatening the very reasons why people want to move to villages like Urchfont, near Devizes, Kennet councillors heard last Thursday.

Coun Lionel Grundy told members of the council's regulatory committee that continual applications to infill all available green space were threatening the character of the village.

The committee was considering an application by Salisbury Diocese to replace a side extension at Sarum House in the High Street with a detached house and garage with a studio flat above.

Sarum House was until recently the home of the Archdeacon of Wiltshire and, before that, the residence of the Bishop of Ramsbury. It is now surplus to requirements and is to be sold.

During the public session, Peter Cook, whose own property abuts Sarum House, condemned the remorseless stream of applications to build behind and alongside properties in the village's conservation area.

He said that, in recent years, there had been applications to build on the site of the former chicken processing factory, behind Inglefield in the High Street and now at Sarum House.

He told the meeting: "The planning officers say that the proposed development can't be seen from the road. If applications are solely judged on whether they can be seen from the road there is no hope left for conservation areas.

"When conservation comes up against infill, infill wins every time."

His point was supported by parish councillor Royston Thomas who said: "Kennet's planning officers have given insufficient consideration to the future of the conservation area. The nature of Urchfont's conservation area depends on openness and large gardens."

Coun Grundy agreed. He said: "Urchfont is a pretty village, which is why so many people want to live there. We are continually hearing about applications for infill proposals and are getting to the point where the whole character of the village is being destroyed."

Chairman Coun John Booth said that, under Government policy, gardens were built-up areas and could be developed. It was difficult to find a valid reason to refuse the application. "If we turn this down there will be an appeal and we will almost certainly lose at great cost to ourselves," he said.

Coun Grundy replied: "What is the point of discussing these applications if we have no power to deal with them in the way we feel is right?

"It sticks in the throat that the diocese will be free to increase the value of this property with no consideration for the benefit of the community."

Coun Rosemary Cummins said that allowing intensive developments in villages would remove pressure on green field sites. She moved approval of the application with an added condition removing permitted development rights for the site, meaning that any further building on it would have to be submitted for approval by Kennet.

But it is not just rural villages that are under threat from infilling. Councillors were told that officers had recommended approval of an application by Hannick Homes to build a detached house in the 85-metre-long front garden of Littlecroft on London Road, Devizes.

Coun Tony Duck said: "Each entrance to Devizes has substantial properties well set back from the road.

"Do we really want to see a rash of development in front of these gracious buildings? It will stick out like a sore thumb."