Garden of Hazelmere in Southampton Road, Cadnam, could be developed with five affordable homes
FIVE affordable homes could be built on the edge of the New Forest under a trailblazing new scheme.
Plans have been submitted to the national park authority for the properties to be constructed using the garden of a large home in Cadnam.
The first of its kind in the Forest, the build-to-rent initiative would let out the new properties for 80% of market rent for at least 15 years before they can be sold by the owner.
Future occupiers would be allocated from the local authority waiting list and offer minimum three-year tenancies.
The plot of Hazelmere, in Southampton Road, would be subdivided for the affordable homes, accompanied by nine parking spaces.
A previous application to build six semi-detached homes on the site was rejected by the NPA in 2019 and subsequently dismissed at appeal.
Despite being outside defined settlement boundaries, the plot could be developed as an “exception site” for affordable housing to meet local need.
The application said: “In the event that the owner sells a property within the 15-year period there will be a clawback clause in favour of the authority based on the difference between the value of the rental unit and that sold on the open market.”
The new scheme proposes two one-bedroom homes; a pair of two-bedroom homes; and one three-bedroom property, along with private gardens and a new access point onto Southampton Road.
The plans said: “The proposed site layout maintains an open feel with central green space fronting a curved highway.
“The dwellings will take influence from the existing dwelling Hazelmere and local surroundings. They are very similar in appearance to those dwellings found to the east within Rockram Close.”
The application said that even with retention of Hazelmere and the erection of the new dwellings, less than 10% of the 2,550-square metre site would be developed.
The deadline for public comments ends tomorrow (Friday) and a decision by the NPA is expected later.
