The Northern Area Planning Committee of Wiltshire Council met on Wednesday 14 January 2026 to consider a range of planning applications. The meeting agenda included discussions on planning appeals and updates, alongside three specific planning applications.

Planning Appeals and Updates

The committee was scheduled to receive details of completed and pending planning appeals. A report pack provided an update on appeals received between 21 November 2025 and 2 January 2026, and those decided within the same period. This included information on appeals for sites such as Merrythatch in Clyffe Pypard & Bushton, Hazeland Mill in Bremhill, and Land North of Bath Road in Corsham. The report also detailed appeal decisions for Land to the South of Chelworth Lodge Industrial Estate in Chelworth, Land at The School in Biddestone, and Field to North of Sodom Lane in Grittenham.

Planning Applications

The committee was scheduled to consider three planning applications:

PL/2025/03848 - Units 2-6, Stockley Hollow Yard, Stockley Road, Stockley, Wiltshire, SN11 0NP

This application concerned a retrospective change of use of agricultural buildings to commercial use, specifically falling within Use Class B8 (Storage and Distribution) and Use Class E(g)(iii) (Commercial, Business and Service), along with associated parking. The report indicated that the proposal was considered acceptable in principle, subject to conditions relating to approved plans, visibility splays, no external storage, and hours of operation. An addendum to the officer's report introduced further recommended conditions concerning unit separation, removal of storage containers, and external lighting.

PL/2025/03850 - Units 1 - Rear of 1 West View, Stockley Road, Stockley

This application also related to a retrospective change of use of an agricultural building to commercial use, specifically Use Class B8 and Use Class E(g)(iii), with associated parking. However, an addendum to the officer's report recommended deferring this application to a future meeting to allow for further information gathering and review of conditions in consultation with council officers.

PL/2025/04154 - Land North of Cross Lanes Farm, Waterhay, Leigh, Wiltshire, SN6 6QY

This application sought full planning permission for the erection of a new dwelling, studio building, stable building, field shelter, and the creation of a new access with associated landscaping. The proposal was described as being for a mixed-use of domestic land, land for the private keeping of horses, and land to provide areas for biodiversity net gain. The report highlighted that the proposal was being considered against paragraph 84e of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which supports isolated dwellings in the open countryside if they are of exceptional quality in design and significantly enhance their immediate setting. The report detailed considerations regarding design, landscape impact, ecology, highways, and residential amenities, concluding that the benefits of the scheme, particularly its exceptional design and biodiversity net gain, outweighed potential harms. The recommendation was to grant planning permission, subject to conditions and the applicant demonstrating that a district licence for Great Crested Newts has been secured and a mitigation payment for the North Meadow SAC has been made.