Controversial housing in Bishop's Waltham approved (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Controversial housing in Bishop's Waltham approved

1:47pm Thursday 16th June 2011 in Bishop's Waltham By Joseph Curtis

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to bring new homes to Bishop’s Waltham has been approved.

Winchester City Council rubber stamped a plan to bring nine new homes to Rareridge Lane on Tuesday.

Applicants Burton Property Ventures Ltd brought the plan to the council after having a similar application turned down on appeal in February.

Planning officers again recommended refusing the application, arguing it would damage the character of the area, and were supported 28 other letters of objection.

But a majority of councillors disagreed with officers arguments and approved the scheme by seven votes to three.

Cllr Ernie Jeffs, chair of the deciding committee, said: “As far as I’m concerned I do not think it is harmful to the character of the area. It seems to fit in quite well. You have to share and share alike in these properties.”

Tony Burton, managing director of the applicants, said: “I’m very pleased that the councillors took the trouble to make a site visit. It required a careful judgement on behalf of the councillors to fully understand the integration of the proposed development with the character of Rareridge Lane.

“I’m very pleased with the decision and look forward to building a high quality development deserving of the location.”

Although Bishop’s Waltham Parish Council objected to the development, it was on a matter of house size rather than the principle.

Parish clerk Lindsay Edge said: “We do not have any objection to where they want to build it; we were just disappointed that it didn’t include three-bedroom houses that we picked up on a need for through the Blueprint exercise.”

Councillors had argued the narrowness of the entrance to the development would be dangerous.

Cllr Allan Mitchell said: “I think the narrowness of the entrance will substantially damage the saleability of the rest of the houses in the development. I think it’s far too narrow.”

But councillors could not use access as a reason to refuse the application because the Highways officers confirmed it was up to standard.