The Old Sports Centre site, earmarked for 13 two- and three-bedroom homes, remains empty despite planning approval being granted more than three years ago.

The development was due to be delivered by Stone Circle Development Company, an “arm’s length” firm set up by Wiltshire Council in 2019 to build and acquire homes on a commercial footing while supporting social housing.

However, the company is now £3.9 million in debt and, having failed to build any homes in six years, will no longer deliver new developments. Instead, it is expected to be scaled back to focus on managing its debts.

An interim report by Wiltshire Council's Stone Circle task group criticised an ongoing lack of scrutiny, saying important meetings were held behind closed doors.

Simon Davison, chair of Tisbury Parish Council, said: "It's a scandal. Millions have been spent and nothing has been built."

He added: “We just want the homes to be built and for someone to take responsibility.”

The task group, set up in July 2025, has reviewed meeting minutes and interviewed four key figures, including council leader Richard Clewer, former leader Philip Whitehead, the council’s corporate director of resources, and the director of legal and governance.

Plans for another development in New Zealand Avenue, Salisbury, were also never progressed.

White Horse Housing Association had been due to purchase six of the Tisbury homes as affordable housing, to be managed on behalf of Nadder Community Land Trust.

Steve Warran, White Horse Housing Association CEO, said: "Over the last five years, the Association has been working closely with the Nadder Community Land Trust to help them provide six affordable homes on the Old Sports Centre site at Tisbury.

"The site, owned by Wiltshire Council was due to be developed by their arm’s length development company, Stone Circle. Planning approval was granted in December 2022 for a scheme of 13 homes, six of which would be purchased by White Horse Housing on behalf of the CLT as affordable housing for the community ‘in perpetuity’.

"Five of the new homes are to be rented accommodation with one two-bed house being offered as a shared ownership property.

"Over the past three years, the scheme has been subject to delays – most of which have never been properly explained.

"However, we were led to believe the delays were down to developing the specification and detailed house designs, gaining consents from utility providers and meeting the pre ‘start on site’ planning conditions.

"Unfortunately, given the most recent press release from Wiltshire Council it is clear there is now an internal debate about the future of Stone Circle and this is leading to further delays. Indeed, the planning approval is due to run out – if it hasn’t already – and this will need to be renewed if the site is to go ahead.  

"Therefore, until the council decide the future of Stone Circle – or how to progress the sites they were planning to develop - it is unclear how this site can be progressed.

"We fully understand the frustration of the local community, the Parish Council and the members of the CLT.

"There is clearly a housing need in Tisbury and with planning approved for this site granted some three years ago it was obviously hoped that new affordable homes would be available within a reasonable timescale.

"However, the development of the site is completely out of our hands. It will be Wiltshire Council who decide how and when the scheme is finally developed.

"We are ready and waiting to purchase these homes once they are built and ensure they are allocated to local people in Tisbury."

A spokesperson for Nadder Community Land Trust said: "The Nadder Community land trust seek to find an alternative way to deliver the project. Until there is a firm proposal to put to Stone Circle Developments, we do not know what the timescales will be, or whether acceptable to the landowner."

Stone Circle was contacted for a comment.

Wiltshire Council chose not to comment when contacted regarding this story.

Mary Myers, who co-wrote this article, is married to Simon Davison.