13 of the 45 houses would be offered at affordable rents
A new housing estate which fills in the gap between two others is soon to be built near Highworth.
The plan by Chichester-based developer Hares to build 45 houses on a green field just south of the town has been approved.
The plan says there would be 19 three-bed semi-detached houses and three four-bed semis, with 19 four-bedroom detached and four five-bed executive homes. It adds 13 of the houses would be offered at affordable rents.
The site is outside Highworth’s development boundary. There are well-publicised concerns from residents and the town council about the boundary creeping ever closer to Swindon but planners at the borough council thought this scheme did not contribute to that.
The officers’ report said: It is important to note the proposal site is or soon will be surrounded on three sides by existing residential development and thus ‘on the ground’ is or very soon will not be truly in the open countryside.
In addition, the development would not extend the village any further south than at present – the southern boundary of the recently completed residential development to the east is level with the southern boundary of the proposal site, it said.
The officers’ report says the new development will also help, to a degree, in supporting Highworth’s local economy. It said: The benefits are the provision of much needed housing, including affordable housing.
In terms of the economic dimension the development would contribute towards economic growth during the construction phase. Also, additional population created would also be likely to assist the local economy in terms of utilising local services, the report said.
It said: With regard to the environmental dimension, Highworth has public transport links and the village includes a range of shops and services.
