PLANNERS have approved a contentious housing scheme that attracted 45 objections in a village near Winchester. 

The proposal, first submitted in 2022, is for seven homes on land east of Burnet Lane in Kings Worthy.

The application, from director of Shorewood Homes Richard Wickins, was recommended for permission by city council planning officers, despite the level of opposition. 

The scheme was permitted by the planning committee on Wednesday, January 10. 

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Hampshire Chronicle: Cllr Jackie Porter speaking to the planning committee

In the officers' report, it said: “The applicant has worked with officers, and it is considered that the resulting scheme can be supported. The proposal for seven dwellings is acceptable and not out of character to the spatial characteristics of the surrounding area. The proposal will be visible from the neighbouring properties but will not have an unacceptable adverse impact on residential amenity. There are no highway objections to the proposal.

“Overall, the scheme is well designed and will create a distinctive addition to the local area. Other planning considerations, such as landscape, ecology drainage, water, construction and waste management have been addressed appropriately. The application is therefore considered acceptable.”

Despite the large number of objections, no members of the public addressed the committee. 

The Worthys ward councillor Jackie Porter told the committee. She said: “The committee's update paper addresses the issues of access and bio-diversity.”

Stuart Garnett, head of planning at Shorewood Homes, said: “This has been a very lengthy application as there was a need to secure nitrate neutrality. 

“Significant bio-diversity net gain has now been achieved. The proposals are for just seven traditionally designed family homes, surrounded by existing homes. We have already built two high-quality schemes in Kings Worthy.”

Committee vice chairman Cllr Chris Edwards was happy to permit the scheme. “We have heard about the ecology mitigation on Top Field as a wildlife area. The biodiversity net gain is entirely justified. I think it will be really attractive for the residents around the site,” he said. 

Chairman Cllr Jane Rutter said: “It's quite a tight development. I'm reassured that residents of Burnet Lane will have as little disruption as possible during construction. Inevitably, there will be some disruption. It's crazy the access has to go through Burnet Lane, but it is what it is. This is the best we can hope for.”

All nine members of the committee voted in favour of the scheme.