PLANNERS have approved detailed plans for a controversial major housing estate at Alresford.

Taylor Wimpey already had permission for around 320 houses off Sun Lane, along with open space and an area for employment.

It will be the biggest single expansion of the market town in more than 30 years.

Taylor Wimpey have secured permission for 302 homes as well as the housing design, layout and landscaping, with details of the open space and a 30-space park and stride site.

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Local city councillor Margot Power told the planning committee: "I have been working on this site for 12 years. An enormous numbers of members of the community have made their views known, sometime vociferously."

Cllr Power said the park and stride site was in the wrong place and should be further south closer to the two Sun Hill schools. "I don't see anybody using it as park and stride for the school. It will become overnight parking for people living in Nursery Road where there is currently not enough parking."

David Jobbins, agent for developer Taylor Wimpey, said the final scheme followed extensive negotiations with council planning officers.

He said of the 302 houses, 121 would be affordable, the country park would be 40 acres.

No construction traffic would use Sun Lane as access would be from the new roundabout on the A31 Alresford bypass.

The employment area to the south of the site, just off the proposed roundabout off the town bypass, is not part of this application.

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There were objections for 38 households with some objections not realising that the principle of development has already been granted.

Objections include: blandness of the design; the climate emergency not being addressed; the lack of an overflow facility on the wet lower part of the site; the inadequate size of the park and stride car park.

Alresford Town Council and Alresford Society has also raised concerns including light and noise pollution from the new roundabout, disruption to nearby properties during construction, and drainage issues already in Whitehill Road.

The planning committee unanimously approved the detailed plans.

 

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