Cllr Botterill and I met representatives from Marengo Communications and Cotswold Homes on Monday. This was a preliminary discussion to learn more about their scheme to build around 50 houses on land off Biddestone Lane.
Cllr Botterill made it clear that this scheme has not been included in the draft Wiltshire Local Plan recently approved by Full Council to go to the final stage of inspection and as such was not a welcome intervention by the developer.
In the context of the Local Plan it was explained that as Yatton Keynell, had recently grown by 38 homes (31 in Drovers Green and 7 in Phillips Grove) there was no reason for any further growth on this scale in the foreseeable future, regardless of the new Government’s proposed changes to Planning Policy.
As such, this is a purely speculative and opportunist proposal on a site detached from the main village and situated outside the 2018 settlement boundary which, as reflected in the planning process, was adjusted to include Drovers Green.
Nothing new of any substance resulted from the meeting other than a stated intention to hold a public (drop in) consultation towards the end of November. Their presentation comprised illustrations from 6 of their other sites, screen prints from Google maps, a basic chart of where the site is in relation to the village with a list of Considerations and Opportunities, 4 bullet points on Work to Date and the final chart with 7 Next Steps bullet points. In all, not very enlightening.
I do not propose to offer detailed comments on social media but I’m confident that any residents who attend the consultation will eloquently express their own views.
Alistair Parker – Chairman Yatton Keynell Parish Council