Decision on Crest Nicholson South’s application for 443 homes on land off Moortown Lane, Ringwood, is postponed by NFDC

A DECISION on whether to approve a development of nearly 450 homes near Ringwood has been put off by New Forest District Council.

As reported in the A&T, Crest Nicholson South submitted a hybrid application for land off Moortown Lane, which seeks full permission for 150 homes and outline permission for up to 293 dwellings.

The land, about 29 hectares, is earmarked for development in the NFDC’s Local Plan.

The application was due to be discussed at a meeting of the planning committee last Wednesday, with officers recommending it for approval despite objection from the town council and more than 100 residents.

However, members were informed of “two substantive events” which had forced its removal from the agenda.

NFDC’s service manager Mark Wyatt told the meeting this was due to the election of a new government, which had indicated “a clear intended direction of travel” on national planning policies relating to housing delivery, and the recent adoption of the Ringwood Neighbourhood Plan, which sets out guidelines for the area.

The application will be heard at a future planning meeting, he said.

The developer has split the scheme into phases, with the first involving the delivery of of 150 homes, a mixture of one and two-bedroom flats and three and four-bedroom houses.

Of these properties, 75 are earmarked for affordable housing through social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership.

Access to the site will be from Moortown Lane, including a new pedestrian and cycle crossing to the south.

Areas of public open space would also be created, including two children’s play areas.

The second phase – the outline application – would provide 58 affordable properties.