Major decisions are to be taken by Kennet Councillors on Thursday 25th September.  Members of the Planning Policies Executive Committee will meet to decide on the location of new houses to be built in the district over the next 20 years or so.  To meet the government's target, recently set out in the revised regional plan for the south-west, Members will consider proposals to locate a further 700 houses in Devizes, 1000 houses in Tidworth/Ludgershall and 200 houses in Marlborough.

Cllr Stuart Wheeler, the Chairman of the Committee, said "we have to identify the best location for a further 1900 new homes and such a scale of development will undoubtedly impact on local communities.  It is our task to ensure that we choose general locations where the impact will be positive rather than negative and where the consequences on other interests are minimised".

The meeting follows an extensive public consultation held during May and June this year.  This included meetings with the public and representatives of key local and regional organisations.  Exhibitions were held and information leaflets incorporating questionnaires were widely circulated.  The information leaflets contained ‘community profiles' on each of the four community areas in the district and put forward options for locating growth.  Options were also put forward regarding the nature of future development in villages.

Councillors will be informed of the results of the consultation exercise to help them form their views.  They will be advised that although there was general acceptance that Devizes was the main centre for providing services, facilities and economic and social activity in the area, a large body of local opinion takes the view that continued growth of the town was not sustainable.  In particular, the issue of congestion throughout the town was cited as a reason to reject further significant additional growth.  Work undertaken by the County Council demonstrated that congestion could not be alleviated by the provision of a by-pass or relief road.  However, remedial work to critical junctions would extend capacity for an increase of about 800 dwellings.

Overall, local opinions wish to see the towns of Marlborough and Tidworth/Ludgershall take a proportion of future growth both to take pressure off Devizes and also help them to meet local needs, in the case of Marlborough, and reach local aspirations for a more balanced community and fulfil the potential for growth in Tidworth/Ludgershall.