Major Sway housing scheme backed national park authority officers despite opposition from locals

CONTROVERSIAL plans for 46 new homes on former greenbelt land in Sway have been backed by national park authority officers despite objections from dozens of local people and the parish council.

The scheme in Church Lane, which has been described as the most significant in the village for a generation, is set to be considered by the NPA’s planning committee next week.

Recommending that permission should be granted with a series of conditions, NPA planning officer Liz Marsden wrote in a report to members: “The nearest neighbouring properties are located to the north of Church Lane and to the west, both at a distance of over 25 metres.

“Given this distance, and the existing tree and hedge screening along the boundaries of the site, it is not considered that the proposal would have a direct impact on the amenities of the occupants of these properties.”

However, Sway Parish Council has claimed the issues around road safety, insufficient parking, poor design and housing density have not been addressed and therefore permission should be refused.

In a statement, the parish council said: “A number of ecological, environmental and climate change mitigations have been overlooked, including rainwater/greywater recycling, full provision of solar panels, bird nesting and bat roosts.”

The initial application prompted 44 letters of objection from local people raising concerns about the design, safety of the junction, parking, the housing mix and plans for green space.

Following amendments, a further 29 objections where received, including eight from people who had not commented before.

Under the updated proposals, half the dwellings will remain affordable, with more smaller one and two-bedroom properties proposed to meet local need.

The amended plans now feature four one-bedroom, nine two-bed and 33 three-bedroom properties.

The bid submitted to the national park authority by Hector Hurst, of Hurst and Hurst Estates Ltd, also includes 92 parking spaces and public open space.

The site is included in the NPA’s Local Plan – a keystone document which sets out where major developments should take place within the national park until 2036.

Its allocation for 40 homes is already accepted and the NPA said its must be flexible in considering schemes for more.

The report to the planning committee revealed the initial plans had also been amended to safeguard protected trees, include more planting and deliver a circular footpath around community space.

Amenity areas have been redesigned to reflect the countryside character of the area and enhance biodiversity, the site access has been moved, the layout and design of proposed housing has been altered, and a footpath and pedestrian access point has also been removed.

The application will now be decided by the NPA’s planning committee during a meeting at its Lymington headquarters on Tuesday.