Monday 2nd March 2026
EBBRAG Update
While there has not been a recent update, the EBBRAG team has been working hard behind the scenes on the draft Neighbourhood Plan. Further details will be shared shortly.
Please find attached a list of infrastructure impacts if all known, planned, and speculative housing developments are built by 2038. Note that the number of houses has increased compared to the earlier EBBRAG email of 11 February 2026, as additional planning applications have been identified. We have included a breakdown of known developments below so you are aware of the site locations.
While many support developing brownfield sites within the town, EBBRAG remains very concerned about the number of houses proposed for greenfield sites coming to Warminster and the additional residents, traffic, and pressure on services without clearly planned supporting infrastructure. Developers often make commitments during the application process; however, delivery does not always reflect those assurances. The Town Council has stated that services will increase in line with population growth, for example, that NHS provision will expand if the population increases. but you may be aware that, due to recent staff sickness, Avenue Surgery is already struggling to support the current population.
Current Known Planned Housing for Warminster to 2038 (by site)
- Jubilee Gardens, up to 1,550 houses to 2038 (1,000 by 2026) (approved) (Greenfield)
- Cley Hill, 227 houses (approved) (Greenfield)
- Grovelands, 68 houses (approved) (Greenfield)
- Brick Hill Farm, 9 houses (in process) (Greenfield)
- Masons Arms, 6 flats + 2 houses (Brownfield)
- John Barleycorn, 9 apartments (Brownfield)
- 3 High Street, shop + 11 apartments (Brownfield)
- 1 Copheap Lane, 4 bungalows (Brownfield)
Total Known Speculative / Draft NP2 Housing for Warminster to 2038 (by site)
- Ashley Coombe, 77 houses (speculative application, not yet approved) (Greenfield)
- Westbury Road, 205 houses (speculative application, not yet approved) (Greenfield)
- Home Farm, 90/135 houses (Neighbourhood Plan/developer speculative figures, not yet approved) (Greenfield)
This makes a total of 2,258 possible new-build houses by 2038 (using the draft NP2 figure for Home Farm rather than the developer’s higher estimate).
Please also note that the former Warminster Prep School site is currently for sale through Savills for residential development. This is a large site, including playing fields, and could accommodate a significant number of additional homes.
Additional Points
(i) Impact on the River Wylye
- The River Wylye is a globally recognised rare chalk stream, hydrologically linked to the River Avon (a Special Area of Conservation), and is already highly phosphate- and nutrient-sensitive.
- The draft NP does not demonstrate that a clear solution is in place to address this issue, nor that wastewater systems can cope with the additional 713,000 litres per day that could be produced. This figure does not include infill and brownfield development.
- The draft plan also does not clearly show how legal environmental protections will be met.
(ii) Loss of Green Space
- The draft NP 2 emphasises protecting green spaces; however, site selection appears inconsistent with this objective For example, Home Farm, the principal site selected, is a historic rural site outside the settlement boundary and is not required based on current Wiltshire housing need figures of 90 houses.
- It is also believed that the medieval village of Boreham was founded on Home Farm fields.
- With the fencing of Kingdown playing fields, East Warminster has no remaining green spaces other than Home Farm, in contrast to those identified to the west and south of Warminster by the draft NP 2.
- Development would permanently affect countryside views, wildlife, recreation, and wellbeing for residents of East Warminster.
(iii) Highway Safety
- The proposed Home Farm access is located just beyond a blind bend on Boreham Road (leaving Warminster), which raises safety concerns. Several accidents have occurred nearby in recent years.
- A similar access proposal was rejected by both Highways and a Planning Inspector in 2019, with additional comments that a significant heritage asset wall would need to be demolished.
- This would have a detrimental impact on the historic character and vista of Boreham Road.
(iv) Concerns About the NP 2 Process
- The process to date has raised concerns regarding communication with residents (for example, awareness of the informal survey), the apparent disregard of earlier survey results (61% of respondents opposed inclusion of Home Farm), limited engagement with major local employers (Bishopstrow Hotel and GEA), and reliance on an external consultant at public expense, estimated at £33,000 to date (£16,000 funded through Warminster Council tax) according to the Town Clerk but believed to be significantly more.
- EBBRAG believes that the housing site selection element of the NP is profoundly flawed and that the inclusion of Home Farm as the only significant site for development compromises the NP 2 as a whole. EBBRAG have repeatedly tried to engage with the Council on these issues and so far they have failed to provide evidence that demonstrates the process of site selection has been both fairly representative of our community and democratic. EBBRAG’s intention is to continue to raise these vitally important concerns with the Council and if needs be, at the appropriate time, with Wiltshire County Council.
Requested Actions
As a member of EBBRAG, please consider taking the following actions:
(i) Complete the draft Neighbourhood Plan survey by midnight on 23 March 2026.
To access the survey, please use the following link:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/3KNZGD/
Please ensure you include the wording: “Remove Home Farm from Site Selection.
(ii) Write to the Town Council Steering Group by midnight on 23 March 2026, using the attached updated information to raise concerns about the inclusion of Home Farm and the lack of supporting infrastructure.
Address:
Warminster Town Council Steering Group
Warminster Civic Centre
Sambourne Road
Warminster
Wiltshire BA12 8LB
or Email: civiccentre@warminster-tc.gov.uk
Please also copy the local MP, Dr Andrew Murrison, at: andrew.murrison.mp@parliament.uk
(iii) Sign the open letter on the EBBRAG website:
https://www.ebbrag.com/letter/
It is very important that as many residents as possible complete these actions. Please not only complete the three actions yourself but also encourage partners, relatives, friends, and neighbours to do the same.
If each person encourages ten others to participate, the collective response will carry significant weight when the Town Council reviews submissions at the end of March 2026.
Thank you for your continued time and effort.
EBBRAG