THE Flower family has launched a planning appeal after months of negotiation about the future of its former Chippenham scrapyard site reached deadlock.

Outline planning permission was granted in autumn 2000 for housing, retail, business and leisure use.

But North Wiltshire District Council and the Flower family cannot agree on the affordable housing on the prime town centre site.

"There are issues on this site for the developers to deal with, such as contamination," said council planning business manager, Laurie Bell.

"In any development in excess of 25 dwellings we look for 30 per cent affordable housing, and if there were no issues with the site the developer could still make a sufficient profit. They are finding this difficult."

The council has asked for the appeal to be dealt with at an inquiry.