New Forest District Council approved Pennyfarthing Homes’ plans for 74 of 342-home scheme on land west of Whitsbury Road in Fordingbridge

AN application for 74 homes in Fordingbridge – part of a wider plan for more than 300 properties in the area – has been approved by New Forest District Council.

As reported in the A&T, developer Pennyfarthing Homes wants to create a neighbourhood of 342 homes on the northern edge of the town, with the proposed new development part of the Forde Valley housing scheme in the wake of its nearby Whitsbury Green development.

Outline planning approval for land west of Whitsbury Road was granted last September, with the site having been allocated in NFDC’s Local Plan.

The first phase of the development will provide 18 affordable homes, which would be a mix of flats and houses, and 56 open market homes, to include flats, houses and bungalows.

The council’s planning committee met to discuss the reserved matters application, which was recommended for approval by NFDC’s planning officers, despite concerns from its environmental design team.

These included a “mismatch of pathways” at the entrance to the site due to public rights of ways not being diverted, which was said to create “a contrived landscape”; and the revised layout for a play area being of “poor design which depletes the landscaped quality” of the scheme.

Backing the proposal, Cllr Richard Frampton said the development was “well designed”, adding: “This is not out of keeping, even in the national park. It is a very well thought out application.”

Cllr Barry Rickman agreed, and said he was pleased to see a “balanced” mix of properties.

Members voted in favour of the scheme by 10 votes to one.