Wiltshire Council approved Aster’s plan to demolish York Place in Marlborough for 28 affordable homes, facing parking and overdevelopment concerns.
They planned to rehouse the older residents and build twenty-eight homes there. The breakdown is thirteen one-bedroom homes plus fifteen two-bedroom homes; all of these homes will be affordable.
Almost one year later, things are still in process, as Aster needs to agree on a Section 106 deal with Wiltshire Council itself. This delay has stopped any construction from starting, and they can’t start until they finalize the 106 agreement.
The spokesperson said they want to provide affordable homes in areas like Marlborough, and they are working with the local council. The old building was for people over 55 and was built in the 1970s.
People raised serious concerns about the new plans. Residents worried the project would make parking worse, and Selina Sheerin said parking is already very bad there, noting that families often own two cars.
Caroline Thomas spoke against the plan at a meeting, citing overdevelopment and parking problems. She also mentioned likely anti-social behavior.
Aster stated that the project would help Wiltshire’s housing, aiming to provide good affordable housing options. They claimed this site is no different. York Place wasn’t offering decent housing anymore to their customers, so they found them other suitable homes, with the new properties hoping to meet local housing needs.
