The Eastern Area Planning Committee of Wiltshire Council met on Thursday 17 September 2026 to consider a range of planning applications and appeals. The meeting's agenda included discussions on planning appeals, a proposed residential development, and the retention of a painted façade on a listed building.

Planning Appeals and Updates

The committee was scheduled to receive details of completed and pending planning appeals. A document outlining appeals received between April and September 2026 was provided, detailing applications such as the change of use of the St George and Dragon public house in Erlestoke, the conversion of a redundant farm building at Manor House, Little Bedwyn, and an outline planning permission application for residential development at Land South of Coate Road, Devizes. Information regarding decisions on appeals was also listed, including the dismissal of an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the change of use of the Red Lion public house in Axford to a single residential dwelling.

Planning Applications

PL/2026/01373 - 95 High Street, Marlborough, SN8 1HD

This application concerned the retention of a burgundy and pink striped painted front façade at a Grade II listed building within the Marlborough Conservation Area. The officer's report recommended refusal, stating that the decoration was not a traditional form of elevational treatment and detracted from the building's architectural detailing and its setting within the conservation area. The report noted that while the building had been painted in the past, solid colour schemes were more typical and that the stripes caused visual harm.

PL/2026/01963 - Land South of Coate Road, Devizes

This was an outline planning application for residential development for up to 175 dwellings, including associated works, infrastructure, open space, and landscaping. A new vehicular access was proposed off Coate Road and Windsor Drive. The officer's report recommended refusal, primarily due to unresolved ecological concerns. Despite the delivery of market and affordable housing being a significant benefit, the lack of sufficient ecological information, particularly regarding bat activity, dark ecological corridors, and Biodiversity Net Gain, meant that the council could not be satisfied that the development would comply with national and local biodiversity policies. The report detailed extensive proposed planning obligations, including contributions towards affordable housing, waste and recycling, public open space, sports facilities, public art, and highway and active travel improvements.

Urgent Items

The agenda also included a provision for any other urgent items of business that the Chairman deemed necessary to be taken.

The meeting was scheduled to be held in the Wessex Room at The Corn Exchange, Market Place, Devizes. The committee membership included Councillor Philip Whitehead as Chairman and Councillor Kym-Marie Cleasby as Vice-Chairman, alongside other councillors. The meeting was also subject to Wiltshire Council's recording and broadcasting policy.