NEW plans have gone in for a house in a historic area of Romsey, just days after appeals for previous schemes were quashed. 

Tim Lincoln wants to build a family home on land at the Abbey Hotel in Church Street. 

He initially applied for two houses in 2021 and then reduced it to one in 2022. Both were recommended for permission by Test Valley Borough Council planning officers, but refused by the southern area planning committee. 

Concerns were raised about the size of the buildings and the potential impact on nearby King John's House. The application for two houses also proposed the removal of an important sycamore tree. 

Both appeals were dealt with at the same time and dismissed by the planning inspector on March 1. 

Six days later, Mr Lincoln submitted a new plan for one house. 

READ MORE: Second plan refused for work near historic building

Hampshire Chronicle: CGI of Church Street plan

In the planning statement, it said: “The proposals seek approval for a family house, with car parking, in a highly sustainable location in the centre of Romsey. 

“The application is a resubmission of a previously refused scheme that had been subject to extensive pre-application discussions, including engagement with Historic England. The development proposals were deemed acceptable by officers and as such the application was recommended for approval. However, members, at committee, refused the application. Whilst there has been a recent refusal at appeal in respect of the current proposal it is clear that the only ground for doing so related to the failure by the appellant to sign a S106 agreement in respect of off-site mitigation.

“The current application therefore seeks to submit the same plans and reports as per the previous application and so the proposals remain unchanged. A draft S016 agreement will also be submitted for approval so as to expediate the application.”

By Tuesday, March 12 no comments in support or objection had been submitted. 

In the appeal decision, inspector A Price disagreed with the planning committee on the impact on King John's House. The inspector said: “Whilst there would be some limited intervisibility between the appeal site and King John’s House, the position, scale and nature of the proposed development, in both appeals, would mean that the visually, functionally and physically separate relationship between the appeal site and that asset would be maintained. The historic and architectural interests of the asset would remain unaffected. Taking these factors into account, the proposed development, in both appeals, would not compromise the setting of King John’s House.”

Despite this, the inspector quashed the appeals. 

For more details about the new plan online, search 24/00556/FULLS on Test Valley Borough Council's planning portal.