Hundreds of new homes planned across the New Forest – on sites at Pennington, Hordle, Marchwood and Calmore

PLANS are being drawn up for hundreds of new homes on New Forest sites unlocked for development by updated council policies.

The recently unveiled schemes comprise 82 dwellings on fields east of Lower Pennington Lane, Pennington, and 110 on land east of Everton Road, Hordle.

Another two are for 150 homes at Corks Farm in Normandy Way, Marchwood, which includes 9,300 square metres of employment place, and 80 dwellings off Hill Street in Calmore.

The proposals have been outlined in a series of pre-application submissions – which contain few details – handed in to New Forest District Council by a number of developers.

The emergence of the schemes follows NFDC last year approving its new Local Plan, which sets out locations and policies for development of more than 10,000 new homes until 2036 outside the national park.

The pre-application documents for the Pennington site, launched by Cicero Estates, currently features only a covering letter.

There have been concerns from residents about the impact of so many new homes on the quiet rural character of the local lanes. But previously its director, Jason Lewis, gave an interview to the A&T in which he described benefits the project will bring.

They included a contribution of up to £2m into the local economy to improve schools, healthcare facilities, road infrastructure and footpath links.

He also guaranteed the development would feature 50% affordable housing when he said the company would be “policy compliant” with NFDC. Of those cheaper homes, 70% would be for general needs and rented, with the rest between market discount or shared-ownership properties.

Bargate Homes is the developer seeking to build both in Hordle and Calmore. The company did not comment when approached by the A&T.

Hordle Parish Council chair Cllr Maggie Hill said she and some members had met privately with Bargate Homes in recent weeks to discuss the potential development.

“Many issues were raised including suitably sized green spaces for recreation, pedestrian and cycle paths, adequate parking, access to Everton Road taking into account the parking problem at school drop-off and collection times, and the need for allotments in the parish,” she said.

“Suggestions were well received, and we were assured that there would be co-operation and consultation throughout the development.”

The Marchwood plans are being drawn up by Oceanic Galaxy. In a covering letter it said the 12.2 hectares of horse-grazed grassland would be developed with two, three and four-bed homes accessed via a new entry from Admiralty Way.

Authored by architects Boyle and Summers, it said the extent of the development was limited by a “number of constraints”, including the impacts of odour from the nearby water treatment works.

The intention was to create a “well designed” settlement which responded to housing need within the Waterside, provided protection from rising sea levels, and would conserve and enhance the nearby Royal Naval Armaments Depot Conservation Area.

It added: “The proposals will also seek to facilitate public access through the site to the waterfront and create a strong settlement edge with a clear distinction between formally designed streets, courtyards and spaces, and alternative natural recreational greenspace.”