Objectors await outcome of bid to register field as a village green

Residents are trying to persuade Wiltshire Council planners to approve their application to register the upper field at Southwick as a village green.

The decision was deferred by the council’s Western Area Planning Committee pending research into whether it is legal to grant consent as it was previously ruled that it was a 'trigger event'.

Land developer Waddeton Park and Savills recently won their appeal against the council’s refusal to grant approval for 180 new homes on the land.

READ MORE: Inspector approves plans for 180 homes on Southwick Court Fields

The site at Southwick Court Fields where Waddeton Park Ltd wants to build 180 new homes. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

Planning inspector John Longmuir ruled the Devon-based land developer can go ahead with its plans to build the new homes.

The site is allocated for up to 180 new homes in the Wiltshire Housing Sites Allocation Plan (WHSAP) with access from the A361.

But the residents are waiting for the council to decide their village green application which predates the company's planning application for housing and the inclusion of the land in the WHSAP.

Cllr David Vigar, who represented the residents at the planning appeal last October, said the village green application had predated Waddeton Park’s planning application.

He added: “The inspector who presided over the inquiry had recommended rejecting the application on the grounds that not enough 'lawful sports and pastimes' take place away from public paths on the lower part of the land.

The village green application area at Southwick Court Fields hatched in red on the map. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

“However, I argued that the inclusion of the upper part of the land (hatched in red in the image) in the draft local plan might not be a 'trigger event' that made that land exempt from the application.

“This was because the initial plan that identified the land for development was published in 2017.

“Such trigger events expire in two years and so that one expired before the village green application was made in January 2020.

SEE ALSO: Call for further investigation into Roman remains at Southwick

"Obviously, residents would love this land to be a protected village green because it is so well used by the community of the Trowbridge Grove area. My job is to represent their interests and that’s why I will keep working on this case."

Cllr David Vigar (left) with architect Martin Valatin (centre) and Cllr Graham Hill (right) look at diagrams of where Roman remains might be at Southwick Court Fields. Photo: Trevor Porter 69619-3 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Experts and Historic England believe the Southwick Court Fields are hiding the remains of a Roman villa complex which they claim has potentially national importance.

The complex could include a large villa, a smaller 1st century villa, barns, a bathhouse and a religious shrine.

Cllr Nick Botterill, Wiltshire Council's Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Development Control, said: "The decision on the application for part of Southwick Court Fields to be designated as a village green was deferred at the recent Western Area Planning Committee meeting.

 "We are currently seeking further legal advice on the application and once received, a report will be produced for further consideration at a future planning committee meeting."