HUNDREDS of new homes could be built on the edge of Salisbury if plans are approved.
Persimmon Homes South Coast has submitted an outline application for 220 homes on fields at Downton Road opposite Britford Park and Ride to the south and Bridge Farm to the east.
Included in the plans are children’s play areas and trails, an allotment and an orchard. 88 of the homes would be affordable.
Persimmon Homes say their vision for the site is to create a “thriving” new neighbourhood of high-quality homes that will all be zero-carbon and energy efficient.
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They say the neighbourhood’s identity will be influenced by the “special character” of Salisbury and will seek to maximise views towards Salisbury Cathedral while respecting the setting of the Britford Conservation Area.
The site was identified as a draft allocation for development in the emerging Wiltshire Local Plan, which is currently in the process of review.
A public consultation about the plans took place in October last year, with concerns raised about the impact of more traffic on the road network and the potential strain on infrastructure such as schools, doctors and dentists, as well as the potential increase in flood risk.
The initial masterplan suggested 290 could be built on the site, but this has now been scaled back to 220.
Access to the site has been proposed by creating a new arm on the northern approach to the existing Britford Park and Ride junction with Downton Road.
An artist’s impression of the plans Picture: Thrive Architects
RPS Group said in the planning statement: “The proposed development will deliver a wide range of benefits, including much-needed market and affordable housing, green infrastructure, allotments, a children’s play area, and transport and access enhancements.
“There are further benefits in terms of planning obligations.
“In contrast, the only adverse effects identified relate to the loss of agricultural land and a change to the landscape character of the area, which cumulatively should be afforded moderate weight.”
Wiltshire Council Art has called for a public art installation to be included in the plans which they calculated would cost £66,000.
A spokesperson said: “For a development of this size we would expect the inclusion of public art.”
They added: “Using planning obligations, the indicative public art contribution figure for this site of 220 dwellings (calculated at £300 per dwelling) would be £66,000 to be commuted to Wiltshire Council’s Arts Service to devise, manage and deliver the art and design process and programme in line with our 2024 guidance.”
To view and comment on the plans, search reference PL/2025/02992 on the planning section of Wiltshire Council’s website.
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Building more houses on floodplains have the developers not learned there lesson from netherhampton road. Average household has two cars that will be about another 400+ cars trying to enter Salisbury each morning and evening. Our road system cant take the 1000+ extra cars from both developments coming into Salisbury. I thought the local elections result clearly shows that people of Salisbury and surrounding areas have had enough of the pointless developments destroying our city. WCC need to stop targeting salisbury.