Developer appeals homes decision in village

The garage was previously a blacksmith and has been part of the village for hundreds of years.

A developer is to appeal against a decision to turn down plans for five affordable homes in the centre of a village, replacing a commercial garage.

Gaiger Bros said the project, at Urchfont near Devizes, had been recommended to support housing provision targets in the area but was aware many residents would be "disappointed" with their appeal.

There was concern in the village the heritage of the garage would be lost but the landowner was not expected to renew the lease.

Wiltshire Council said: "The appeal will be considered and determined by the Planning Inspectorate, and it would be inappropriate for the council to comment on the appeal."

In November 2024, Wiltshire Council Planning Committee refused the application going against the planning officers' recommendation, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

One of those who opposed the development was Councillor Phillip Whitehead, a Non-Executive Director at the housing association, Selwood Housing.

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

Mr Whitehead added: "Put the five houses somewhere else, keep our garage as it is."

In a planning report in November 2024 Wiltshire Council said the Parish Council was creating a new neighbourhood plan for the village and local landowners were being consulted to try and identify sites for the housing quota.

Tracey Lloyd runs the garage and is considering a move to buy the land to protect its future.

Urchfont Vehicles leases the land and has a contract expiring in May 2026.

Current owner Tracey Lloyd believed the site should never have been placed on the neighbourhood plan describing the decision as "a nightmare".

Ms Lloyd said they were given first refusal to buy the land but could not afford the asking price of more than £600,000.

She claimed with the support of residents they would consider purchasing the site at a commercial not residential rate.

The location in Urchfont is surrounded by listed buildings but Wiltshire Council say it remains a brownfield site and developers say it is grey belt

A spokesperson for developers Gaiger Bros said: "We do recognise that the opposition to the scheme is principally on the grounds that it will result in the closure of the existing garage business.

"However, this fails to recognise that the landowner has repeatedly confirmed they have no intention to renew the current lease when it expires in May 2026.

"Accordingly, the current tenants will need to find new premises regardless of the outcome of this planning process."

They added: "We understand the village are in the process of renewing the neighbourhood plan and this provides an opportunity to identify a new site for the garage to relocate to in the village.

The firm said it was "fully open to discussing timescales to support a smooth transition to another site."