This 6.78-hectare site to the south of Royal Wootton Bassett has secured outline planning consent for a high-quality residential development of up to 95 homes, including 38 affordable properties. The scheme spans 17 acres and will deliver new play areas, allotments, and varied open spaces connected by leisure routes designed to promote healthy lifestyles. Drainage infrastructure and biodiversity enhancements form a core part of the proposals, with the site benefiting from excellent access to local facilities and transport links.
Our role began at the earliest stage, bringing together expertise across multiple disciplines to shape a scheme that worked with, rather than against, the site’s constraints. Our Flood Risk and Drainage team carried out a Flood Risk Assessment which confirmed that parts of the site fall within Flood Zones 2 and 3, influenced by Hancock’s Water and the Brinkworth Brook. The Environment Agency flood maps used to determine the extents were slightly cut off at the site boundary, so to give the client greater certainty, we undertook site-specific flood modelling to clarify the true flood extent. Using this information, we developed a sustainable drainage strategy with two attenuation basins designed to work with the natural site levels, discharging into each watercourse. Additional measures, including permeable paving, were incorporated to improve water quality and slow surface water run-off. Foul flows will be pumped to a Wessex Water sewer in Marlborough Road, supported by capacity modelling to confirm the network can accommodate the development.
The Geo-Environmental team delivered a Waste Audit, Phase I Desk Study, and Phase II investigations, identifying a generally low to moderate contamination risk, with some localised remediation needed. The ground investigation confirmed variable soil conditions and Made Ground in places, informing foundation choices. The Minerals Assessment confirmed that, although the site sits within a safeguarded area linked to the nearby Rail Aggregate Depot, development would not compromise mineral policy or future operations.
Following the Utilities Assessment, it was confirmed that an overhead high-voltage cable crossing the site required diversion, while a medium-pressure gas main along Marlborough Road was mapped and assessed to avoid unnecessary disruption.
Noise considerations were addressed through an Acoustic Assessment, which modelled the combined effects of road traffic, nearby industrial uses, and a consented commercial scheme to the north. This led to layout refinements, acoustic fencing, and enhanced glazing and ventilation in selected plots.
Finally, the Lighting team prepared a Lighting Impact Assessment that not only ensured safe access across the site but also proposed specific mitigation to protect sensitive ecology. Lighting will be designed to the standards set out in ILP GN01:2021 and Bat Conservation Trust GN08/23 guidance, with luminaires positioned and angled to minimise upward light spill. Crucially, dark foraging and commuting corridors will be retained along Hancock’s Water and the Brinkworth Brook, preventing disturbance to bat populations and other nocturnal wildlife while still providing security for residents.
The development was approved for outline planning, following a unanimous decision from Wiltshire Council's strategic planning committee in August 2025.
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