NFDC grants Pennyfarthing Homes permission to build 112 dwellings as part of 400-house scheme on land west of Salisbury Street, Burgate, near Fordingbridge

The 112-home first stage of a controversial housing scheme near Fordingbridge has been given the go-ahead

New Forest District Council has given the green light to Pennyfarthing Homes to start developing around 35 hectares of land west of Salisbury Street, Burgate, within the next three years.

It is the first stage of a larger housing scheme that could see more than 400 homes built in the area alongside commercial premises and recreational areas.

Applications for the other 292 homes are expected to be made over the next three years.

As reported in the A&T, there was considerable local opposition to the proposed development, including from Fordingbridge Town Council, when it came before NFDC planners in January last year.

Councillors and local residents raised concerns over community infrastructure and flooding, and warned the larger scale development could contribute to the town’s population growing by as much 50% over the next 10 years.

Despite those local objections, NFDC has now granted a hybrid planning application to allow the development of 112 dwellings, plus public open space, an alternative natural recreational greenspace, flood mitigation features and all other “necessary” on-site infrastructure.

Pennyfarthing has also been granted permission to change the use of the land to create a community hub, which it says will comprise a mix of local and non-local food retail, as well as non-food retail, community use and business use units.

NFDC is imposing a raft of conditions on the developers, including the construction of a site access roundabout off Salisbury Road, plus surface water and groundwater drainage, parking access and provision, garages and carports, landscaping hard works and boundaries, planting, and stipulations covering building heights, design and density.

Planning chiefs have imposed a condition that no more than 404 dwellings can be built for the overall development. They also stipulated the mix include 36 one-bed flats, 40 two-bed flats, 90 two-bed houses, 188 three-bed houses and 50 four-bed houses.

Planners added: “The local planning authority would wish to properly consider any mix that does not reflect this submitted mix to ensure that housing needs are adequately met.”

Pennyfarthing must raise some areas of land for the development to reduce the risk of flooding and provide foot and cycle paths in the area that meet highway safety standards.

The new development will include infrastructure to support high speed broadband internet and electric vehicle charging points.

In January 2023, NFDC officers recommended Pennyfarthing Homes be required to make a contribution of £2,536,799 towards the expansion of Fordingbridge infant and junior schools, but this has not been included as one of its planning conditions.

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