'Out of character' flats approved by BCP Council for Chewton Farm Road in Walkford

A CONTROVERSIAL application for 14 "out of character" flats in Walkford was given the go-ahead next to a site where the same developer won approval for 14 more.

The large house at 22 Chewton Farm Road will be demolished to make way for the new homes and underground parking, writes Trevor Bevins of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

BCP Council officers said although the apartment block will be larger than what is there now, it was considered "acceptable".

No affordable homes are proposed with the developer, Fortitudo Ltd, claiming they would not be financially viable.

Objector Peter Watson-Lee told the planning committee the application offered few advantages, with a family home replaced by flats priced at £430,000 and likely to be occupied by retirees or as second homes.

He said: “The size and mass of this development is totally at odds with the character of this area.

“Don’t say you have got no option… you can refuse it.”

Neighbour Gareth Williams predicted privacy and light would be lost, and the parking arrangements generate extra noise.

Objections on the grounds of traffic and overdevelopment were raised by the Highcliffe and Walkford Parish Council.

Richard Carr, who runs Fortitudo, said the proposals offered new homes in a development appearing as one substantial home, in keeping with the area.

But ward councillor Nigel Brooks said it would dominate the street and had been objected to widely by neighbours. The first scheme next door had only been approved by the committee chair’s casting vote, he said.

The new application would be at odds with an area he described as “semi-rural”, and he warned the two schemes together could add 40 vehicles to the neighbourhood.

Twenty parking spaces will be provided with three on the surface and the rest underground.

Cllr Peter Hall proposed refusing the application which he said was against a number of council policies and was out of keeping.

But his proposal was lost 8-5 and the committee approved the application by 8-4 with one abstention.

Councillors were told that two mature oak trees will remain in place on the boundary with additional tree planting planned as part of the development.