The Strategic Planning Committee of Wiltshire Council met on Tuesday 12 May 2026 to discuss planning applications and updates on planning appeals. The meeting's agenda included a review of planning appeals, a full planning application for a large housing development in Salisbury, and a proposal for a solar farm.

Planning Appeals and Updates

The committee received an update on planning appeals. It was noted that there had been no appeals received or determined for applications previously considered by the Strategic Planning Committee between 10 April and 1 May 2026. However, an appeal decision was reported for application PL/2023/10332, concerning a solar farm at Land South of Potterne Park Farm, near Potterne, Devizes. This appeal, which had been refused by the committee, was allowed by the Inspector, Mr Cullum Parker, subject to conditions. The Inspector's decision highlighted that while archaeological works had been addressed, the primary issue was the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including its landscape. The Inspector found that the benefits of renewable energy generation outweighed the localised harm identified. An application for costs made by the appellant against Wiltshire Council was refused, with the Inspector finding no unreasonable behaviour by the council.

PL/2023/03359 - Land West of Ashton Road, Ashton Keynes

The committee was scheduled to consider a planning application for the construction and operation of an anaerobic digestion facility, ancillary infrastructure, and a new access from Ashton Road at Land West of Ashton Road, Ashton Keynes. The report pack indicated that planning permission was recommended to be granted, subject to delegation to the Head of Development Management for the completion of a Section 106 agreement and subject to planning conditions. Various representations were noted, including from Dr Roz Savage MP, the new owner of the North End Works site, and the Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, all raising concerns about the proposal. An addendum to the report clarified that recommended conditions did not explicitly secure operational traffic management measures, and two additional conditions were proposed to improve enforceability. The report also clarified that a photomontage in the original report showed an earlier access view and that references to permanent loss of agricultural land should be read in light of the temporary nature of the development.

Following extensive debate and an adjournment, the committee resolved to defer the application to allow for consultation with Gloucestershire County Council Highways and Thames Water.

PL/2023/01914 - Whistle Mead Solar Farm, Little Chalfield, Melksham

A report was presented concerning the development of a solar farm at Whistle Mead Solar Farm, Little Chalfield, Melksham. The recommendation was for temporary planning permission for 40 years for a solar farm with a generating capacity of up to 14 MW AC. The report detailed corrections to the generation capacity and noted late representations. Amendments to conditions were proposed, including ensuring no lighting during the construction phase until details were approved. The site comprised Grade 3b agricultural land, and the proposal was compared to a previous application on the same site in 2014 that had been refused and dismissed at appeal. The officer's report emphasised that the current scheme had been revised and that national policies placed significant weight on the benefits of low carbon energy.

After considerable debate, a motion to grant planning permission was lost. The committee then noted possible reasons for refusal that had been used in the 2014 application, relating to size, scale, and visual harm to the landscape. A motion to refuse was moved, which was subsequently amended to include cumulative impact as a reason for refusal. The committee resolved to refuse planning permission for the proposal on the grounds of size, scale, cumulative impact, and visual harm to the landscape character and appearance of the site and its wider setting, conflicting with policies in the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

PL/2025/07605 - Land South of Netherhampton Road, Salisbury Phase 2

The committee was scheduled to consider a full planning application for the erection of 406 dwellings, landscaping, car parking, access roads, public open space, and drainage at Land South of Netherhampton Road, Salisbury Phase 2. The report recommended that planning permission be granted, subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement. The application site is allocated for housing in the Wiltshire Housing Site Allocations Plan, and benefits from an extant outline planning permission for a mixed-use development. The report detailed significant planning obligations, including affordable housing provision, contributions towards highways and transport, education, open space, waste and recycling, healthcare, phosphates mitigation, New Forest SAMM contributions, and a Biodiversity Net Gain monitoring fee. The report also addressed key issues such as landscape and visual impact, design, heritage assets, highway safety, ecology and biodiversity, and flood risk and drainage. The planning balance considered the benefits of housing delivery, affordable housing, green infrastructure, and economic uplift against harms related to landscape impact and traffic generation. The report concluded that the benefits of the proposal, particularly the delivery of housing and affordable homes, significantly outweighed the identified harms, engaging the presumption in favour of sustainable development. The recommendation was to grant planning permission, subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement and appropriate planning conditions.