A NEW affordable housing complex can be built in Wickham, despite £100,000 of road improvements falling through.

Wickham Parish Council said it was “bitterly disappointed” that the works beside the new homes in Mill Lane were being shelved.

The decision to proceed without them was made by Winchester City Council’s planning committee on Thursday, January 6.

For a scheme of its size – 20 homes are proposed – the authority would expect around £100,000 in ‘developer contributions’.

The payments are normally made to upgrade nearby roads, sports facilities and play areas.

But the applicant, housing association Hyde Martlet, pleaded poverty when the city council requested £98,858.

Around £68,000 would be used to improve Mill Lane, while the rest would provide extra recreation space in Wickham.

Hyde Martlet offered £10,201, arguing that anything more would make the scheme too costly.

The planning committee also heard that if work was not started by April, the grant needed to deliver the project would be lost.

Members were also told that Wickham Community Land Trust, which had been working with Hyde Martlet, had pulled out of the plan.

Austin Wade, representing the housing association, said Hyde Martlet still wanted to proceed.

“The proposals here have not received any significant objections through the planning process,” he told the committee.

Council officers backed the scheme, and there were no official objections from Wickham Parish Council.

However, Angela Clear, from the parish council, told city planners they were “bitterly disappointed” about losing the Mill Lane upgrade.

Cllr Eileen Berry then raised concerns that if most of the fees were waived for Hyde Martlet, commercial builders might expect the same.

“There is an area here that will come back and bite us on the financial side,” she said.

Several other councillors raised similar fears, but most felt that providing 20 affordable homes would be worth it.

Cllr Therese Evans, who represents Wickham, said she had “regrets” about losing the road improvements, but was otherwise happy.

Cllr Ian Tait also backed the project, which would not only provide 20 affordable homes, but high quality ones, he said.

“I think we’re getting a very good scheme,” he said.

Members backed the plan by five votes to one.

* Winchester City Council’s planning committee was also due to discuss a similar proposal in the Meon Valley at the same meeting.

However, the scheme for 10 homes in Marlands Lane opposite West Meon’s recreation ground was postponed.

It will return to the committee on Thursday, January 27, when an updated ecology report will be ready.