CAMPAIGNERS for the redevelopment of Savernake Hospital have expressed fears Kennet District Council's insistence on having 50 per cent of the planned houses as affordable homes will scupper the scheme.

Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust has submitted plans to redevelop the hospital, demolish many of the present buildings and create a state-of-the-art care village.

To pay for this, the trust has set aside an area for housing, 35 per cent of which will be for staff accommodation and affordable homes to rent.

But the district plan states 50 per cent of houses built in brownfield sites must be set aside as affordable homes.

The Savernake and Community Stakeholders Alliance, held a meeting at the hospital on Tuesday at which committee members discussed the situation with town and district councillors.

SACSA chairman Brian McLintock said: "We are deeply worried that developers won't touch the deal with a bargepole if Kennet insists on the 50 per cent target."

Peter Williams, the trust's project manager for Savernake Hospital, said: "Kennet District Council have been very supportive of us so far and we hope they will continue to be.

"We are sensitive to the fact that Marlborough needs more affordable housing. It is a fine balance that has to be struck."

District councillor David Parker said that the 50 per cent figure in the district plan was only reached after much consultation and negotiation.

He said: "I spelt out to them at the meeting that housing land is so rare and so valuable in Marlborough that we can't let it go by when it comes up. So many of our young people in the town need housing.

"I have asked the primary care trust to keep councillors up to speed with developments, and I would like to see how they have reached their figures.

"Refusal is a definite possibility if some kind of fine balance is not come up with."