'I HAVE an inch of optimism remaining.'

Those are the words of a Romsey town councillor after Test Valley Borough Council conceded an appeal over a major scheme for retirement flats at the gateway to the town. 

A public inquiry was recently held into Churchill Retirement Living's scheme for 47 flats at the former Edwina Mountbatten House care home. 

It was held after Test Valley Borough Council's southern area planning committee refused the scheme earlier this year, despite planning officers recommending approval.

However, on Tuesday, August 20, Test Valley Borough Council withdrew its opposition to the appeal with Sioned Davies, on behalf of the authority, saying: "In light of the evidence given under cross-examination and the council having immediately reviewed the implications for the case as part of its ongoing duties of case management, it took the entirely proportionate and reasonable approach to formally withdraw both remaining reasons for refusal.”

Current site (Image: Churchill)

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Romsey Town Council's planning committee discussed the case at its meeting on Thursday, August 22. Cllr John Parker spoke at the inquiry on behalf of the town council, which opposed the scheme.

He said: “What led to the decision was a carefully orchestrated piece of work by Churchill's KC who had worked along the lines that there were substantial benefits to building the home and used that as an argument to say that it overcame each individual impact on the heritage properties in the conservation area. 

“He took a massive view of the benefits and played it against each individual harm. That led to a situation where the planning consultant had to agree that the substantial benefits outweighed the less than substantial harm in each case. She then had to concede that the decision of the southern area planning committee was irrational. 

“What should have happened is the consultant should have seen that trap coming and pointed out that the sum of all the harm should be weighed against the sum of the benefits. It got to the point where the planning consultant had to agree that the appeal was unsupportable.” 

SEE ALSO: Edwina Mountbatten House: Appeal starts for controversial plans

He added: “What happens next is uncertain because while Test Valley may not have supported the appeal, the inspector still has to weigh up the evidence presented and what he has seen on the ground to make up his own mind. Therefore until we see the decision, we don't know what's going to happen. 

Appeal hearing (Image: Newsquest)

“The lesson for the officers and southern planning is to make sure that we look at the benefits and harm in more detail and spell out the argument succinctly.”

Cllr Mark Cooper, who chairs Test Valley Borough Council's southern area planning committee, said: “I have an inch of optimism remaining that the inspector, not withstanding Test Valley's capitulation, dismiss the appeal. The impact on the entrance of the town will be absolutely massive.”

Cllr John Critchley, town council planning committee chairman, said: “I agree with what has been said, it will be very interesting to see what the inspector says.”

The planning inspector's decision is expected to be published by mid-October.