New details of plans for Lynwood Farm site, off Rollestone Road, between Blackfield and Holbury

NEW details have emerged of a scheme to build up to 200 new homes on farmland between Blackfield and Holbury.

Details of the proposal are limited, however, NFDC is currently considering whether a future application for up to 200 homes on the site south of Rollestone Road in Holbury would require an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

As reported by the A&T, the site, known as Lynwood Farm, was run by brothers John and George Orman, and once boasted a large collection of vintage farm machinery including many tractors and engines. However, neither of the brothers married and, following their deaths, the huge collection was auctioned by Thimbleby & Shorland in 2018.

Now Genesis Town Planning, on behalf of the applicant Wates Developments, has asked NFDC to confirm whether an EIA will be needed for the development, which includes public open space and woodland planting.

The requirement for an EIA is triggered for major schemes which are likely to significantly impact the surrounding environment by virtue of their size and location.

This trigger can include developments of over 150 dwellings covering an overall area of more than five hectares.

The enquiry reveals the existing bungalow and farm buildings would be demolished to make way for up to 200 new homes, of which 70 would be affordable. The project would also involve new access roads and around 18.5 hectares of green open space to be used by residents and the wider community.

The new dwellings would be arranged around a new central road, with access via a primary access road and pedestrian link onto Rollestone Road via the site of the existing farm building and bungalow.

Other proposals include community allotments and orchards, new footpaths and a junior run route, new landscaping planting including greenway corridors and a new native woodland. Electric vehicle charging points would also form part of the scheme.

The development would be a “carbon ready scheme incorporating sustainable technology, including rainwater harvesting, air source heat pumps and photo voltaic panels”.

The enquiry letter sets out how initial pre-application discussions with Natural England had helped inform the “emerging proposals” which would include a minimum 400m buffer between any built form and heathland and grassland sites within the New Forest designated sites.

Concluding the letter, Jeremy Farrelly, the director of planning at Genesis Town Planning, stated: “our analysis of the environmental conditions at the appraisal site has concluded that there are no likely significant environmental effects which give rise to the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment in association with the proposed development.

However, an environmental group has warned that further investigations are likely because the development site falls within the red impact risk zone for great crested newts, with two ponds within 500m of the development proposals.

Great crested newts and their habitats are protected and it is therefore illegal to deliberately capture, injure, kill, disturb or take great crested newts or to damage or destroy breeding sites or resting places.