Building firm Wyatt Homes submits plan to build 100 properties on land south of Derritt Lane, Bransgore

A BUILDING company has submitted plans to build 100 homes near a flood-prone area of Bransgore.

Wyatt Homes wants to erect 85 houses and 15 apartments on land south of Derritt Lane, a route which can become impassable in very heavy rain.

The site, which is opposite the Heatherstone Grange development at the former RAF Sopley Camp, is earmarked for at least 100 homes in New Forest District Council’s Local Plan, which governs construction outside the national park until 2036.

As reported in the A&T, Wyatt Homes has acknowledged the site covers land in flood zones ranging from one to the most serious three.

It has proposed development only in zone 1, which is at low risk from sources such as the Clockhouse Stream which runs along the southern boundary and has an annual probability of flooding of less than one-in-1,000 years.

There are areas at risk of surface flooding from Derritt Lane to the north of the site, so to counteract those the developer has proposed “appropriate corridors” to convey flows southwards across the site to the stream.

It will also construct sustainable drainage systems – known as SUDs – and measures to deal with sewage flooding, which have been identified as a problem in the area.

A spokesperson for the developer said: “The proposals have been informed by extensive pre-application consultation with New Forest District Council officers, technical consultees and the feedback received from our public consultation earlier this year.

“The application is supported by a series of technical reports that address key issues including drainage, highways, ecology and landscape.”

As well as new homes and drainage in the form of a series of shallow green swales, he pointed to more than seven hectares of public open space including a large village green, play areas, and tree planting.

The housebuilder is only planning 18 of the properties to be affordable homes, however, as it said a financial viability assessment had shown that to be the maximum possible.

So far 13 people have objected, citing concerns over infrastructure and flooding, the de-valuing of existing property, the village becoming an “overspill” area and the loss of farming land.

“The application for 100 homes on a small area of greenbelt land is not viable,” one said. “The land/roads flood every year. The land produces much needed crops every year.

“Bransgore is a small village with limited space to keep the natural beauty. The doctors, schools, roads and other services struggle.”

The plans show 40 three-bed houses, 24 two-bed, 19 four-bed, and two five-beds. The 15 apartments comprise six one-beds and nine two-beds.

Former councillor Richard Frampton had been opposed previously but said he now took a more pragmatic approach, given the land had been allocated for housing.

He told the A&T: “This is as good as you are going to get. They have done a good job of not maximising the area they could have. The fact is, this is going to happen.