º£½ÇÊÓƵ

Plans for 187 new homes on the edge of Trowbridge in Wiltshire have been approved, subject to local community contributions from housebuilder Barratt Homes being finalised.

Wiltshire Council’s planning committee has backed the proposed development on a 16-acre site in the village of Hilperton, around 1.3 miles northwest of Trowbridge town centre.

The scheme would compromise a range of two to four-bedroom houses as well 56 affordable homes, with Barratt Homes aiming to begin construction next summer.

The development has received a resolution to grant planning and will be on a site that has been set aside for housing in the Wiltshire Housing Sites Allocation Plan.

Barratt Homes said that more than 500 jobs would be supported during construction.

The firm will contribute more than £3.5m towards healthcare, education, highways and wider community facilities as part of planning obligations agreed with local authorities, full details of which are currently being finalised prior to final planning consent.

These will include £44,000 towards the upgrade of Hilperton village hall and recreation ground, along with new public open space and children's play area.

As part of biodiversity commitments, almost 1km of new hedgerows will be planted and habitat protection for two species of bats active on the site, the greater horseshoe and lesser horseshoe bat, will be built into the project.