Plans for 25 homes in Noads Way, Dibden Purlieu, granted on appeal following rejection by New Forest District Council

An appeal to build 25 homes in Dibden Purlieu has been granted on appeal by a government planning inspector despite the plan sparking nearly 200 objections from locals.

The application by AJC Group for the properties at Orchard Gate, Noads Way, was refused by New Forest District Council in July last year on the grounds the scheme would amount to an overdevelopment of the site and pose a risk to highway and pedestrian safety.

Proposals were also unpopular with the local community, with nearly 200 objections submitted.

The council’s refusal was subsequently appealed, and a planning inquiry was held late last year, following which an inspector has given consent for the plan.

He agreed with the authority’s argument the development would have a “harmful effect” on the character of the area, but ruled this harm would be minimised by the “limited viewpoints” of the site.

Turning to concerns over highway safety, the inspector said he had no “substantive evidence to demonstrate that the proposal would generate additional parking on Noads Way”.

He ruled it would not, given the good visibility along the road and the “relatively low traffic flows”, coupled with the number of additional vehicle movements generated by the proposal, result in any “significant additional risk of accidents”.

Accepting the Highways Authority’s view on the need for crossing points to improve pedestrian access to the nearby junior and infant schools, the inspector said he was “minded to propose” a condition as part of planning consent for a “secure a crossing point to the satisfaction of [highways].”

Three of the homes within the approved scheme will be affordable.