COUNCILLORS in Fordingbridge have objected to proposals to build nearly 100 homes. The plans were discussed by Fordingbridge Town Council’s planning committee last week. At a previous meeting Councillor Alan Lewendon questioned whether this development, which was not designated in New Forest District Council’s (NFDC) Local Plan, was needed as the three sites already allocated should address housing needs. He also said it was outside the defined built up area of Fordingbridge. Planning agent James Cain, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said the proposed development would provide 21 “affordable” homes and also “cater for a full range of people in Fordingbridge”.
PROPOSALS to turn high street units into three flats in Fordingbridge have sparked concerns about “over development” and a lack of parking. An application seeking a change of use for units 2 and 3 Roman Quay, High Street to create three new homes has been submitted to New Forest District Council by Tygwin Ltd. It was discussed by Fordingbridge Town Council on January 13. Councillor Alan Lewendon said the units had been a cafe and shop premises previously and that the cafe building would be divided in half to create two separate units of accommodation. He said they were “very small” and were “stand alone studio flats” but was concerned over the amount of light the lower property would get, which he felt would be “extremely limited”.
How have concerns been addressed? Alistair Harris, speaking on behalf of Metis Homes, said after discussions with planning officers and consultees areas of landscaping had been increased and new areas of open space introduced as well as “greater levels of separation” from some of the trees and sensitive boundaries. Regarding concerns over the day nursery, he said there was a new area of open space in that area, which created a “gap” between the new homes and the nursery. The buildings, he said, now “fronted onto” the open space and were not backing on to the nursery. He also told the meeting it had worked closely with the school and highway authority to agree “improvements to the existing highway” and the school facilities, including dedicated laybys for buses for pupils to be dropped off.