A HOUSING and retail development for the former Ushers brewery bottling site faces more delays after the Government announced its decision to review the plans for itself.

An application for retail outlets, a restaurant and housing on the Trowbridge site were approved by West Wiltshire District Council in June, but the application had to be referred to the Government Office of the South West because of the scale of the development.

Bosses at developers Foinavon and Mystique had hoped for a speedy decision so they could start work on the land between Union Street, Church Street and British Row.

But now the application faces another setback after Govern-ment minister Yvette Cooper ordered the need for a full-scale planning inquiry.

Town and district councillor Graham Payne, deputy leader of West Wiltshire District Council, said: "It is an absolute travesty and a great disappointment. Yvette Cooper is no friend of Trowbridge.

"We have wasted two years of talking about things and this is going to blight that land for another two years."

A spokesman for developer Mystique said: "We are very disappointed with the call in decision particularly since the scheme had so much public support.

"We have just received the notification and are considering its contents."

There are now fears for a social housing scheme approved as part of the plans. Funding was in place for 19 homes to be run by West Wiltshire Housing Society, but contractors needed to be on site by January for the scheme to go ahead.

Cllr Tom James, chairman of Trowbridge planning committee, said: "It is their right to call in the application, and sometimes it is good to have a second opinion, but there is a huge worry about the social housing aspect. All I hope is that at the end of day when they send it back and give their approval they remember they owe us for the social housing. That is a big blow.

"I just hope the Government has the grace to honour what they are going to cost us."

A spokesman for West Wiltshire District Council confirmed notification of the call in had just been received.

He said: "This confirms the significance of this site for Trowbridge and the council will be preparing its case to put forward to the inquiry once we have been given full details by planning inspector."

It is thought unlikely the inquiry will happen until early next year.

Foinavon's first application for the bottling site was turned down despite an application for the nearby brewery going through.

Architects revamped the layout of the main buildings are criticism over the 'warehouse' design.