Village fights plan to build homes on garage site

Some residents say plans to demolish the garage will lead to job losses

Residents in a Wiltshire village are challenging plans to demolish a set of garage buildings to make way for new homes.

In November, Wiltshire Council's planning committee rejected proposals to turn Urchfont Garage in Urchfont, into five homes, despite a recommendation from the planning officer to approve the scheme.

Some residents said they were disappointed by the plan, arguing that it would lead to job losses and the loss of an important service.

Construction firm Gaiger Bros is now appealing the decision.

'Illogical plan'

Local councillor Philip Whitehead described the plans as "entirely illogical", saying they fail to protect local jobs and services.

"You do not need to take away a thriving set of businesses to build five houses," he said.

"Put the five houses somewhere else, keep our garage as it is."

Resident Neil Jones said the garage was "a huge asset to lose" and questioned whether the developer had considered local opposition to the plans.

"We hoped, maybe naively, that Gaiger would recognise that the feedback they have received makes it clear this is not something the village wants," he said.

"Their lack of empathy towards the situation was disappointing."

He also raised concerns about road safety, warning: "It will be a matter of time until someone ends up getting T-boned at that junction."

'Redevelopment inevitable'

A spokesperson for Gaiger Bros said they recognised the appeal would be disappointing for some residents but insisted it had been made with "all circumstances considered".

They pointed to the 2017 neighbourhood plan, which allocated the site for housing following a community vote.

They also said the landowner had long planned to sell the site, informing the current garage tenant that their lease would not be renewed beyond May 2026.

"Our planning application responded to this locally determined housing allocation and resulted in a clear officer recommendation to grant permission, which was overturned at planning committee," they said.

Gaiger Bros said they had attempted to engage with the parish council in May, June, and July 2024 but were not made aware of objections to the housing allocation at the time.

They acknowledged concerns about the loss of the garage business but said the site's redevelopment was inevitable as the lease would not be renewed.

"We understand that the village is in the process of renewing the neighbourhood plan, which provides an opportunity to identify a new site for the garage to relocate to," the spokesperson added.

Residents can submit representations to the appeal process until 27 February.