156-home plan on Hordle Lane withdrawn by developer Bargate

A CONTROVERSIAL scheme for 156 homes on fields near Hordle Primary School has been withdrawn by the developer.

Following feedback from New Forest District Council, Bargate Homes initially opted to scale back its plans from 174 homes, before withdrawing the application entirely last week.

The scheme – which included 78 affordable properties, allotments and public recreation space on fields west of Hordle Lane – was strongly opposed by the parish council and prompted 138 letters of objection from local people.

As reported in the A&T, the site is allocated for development in NFDC’s Local Plan, a keystone document which sets out sites for housing outside the national park up to 2036.

In a design and access statement accompanying the application, Bargate Homes said the scheme would have created “sense of place” and “reflect local distinctiveness”, as well as providing much-needed affordable homes.

However, concerns major concerns were raised about the location of a proposed public recreation space on greenbelt land outside the site, which enabled the higher density build.

Hordle NFDC member Cllr Fran Carpenter, said: "I’m pleased that Bargate’s part of the Hordle SS8 development has been withdrawn. There were many things wrong with it. Both officers and councillors agreed on this. The public recreation land proposed in their plan strayed into woodland on Stopples Lane.

Cllr Carpenter continued: "There is a covenant on a large part of the land to the east of Hordle Lane, so it could not be turned into an acceptable area of recreational land, hence Bargate’s odd attempt to stretch the development outline in a westward direction into Stopples woods. "

Other concerns were raised about the impact on neighbouring properties, in respect of light, visual intrusion and privacy; the safety of footpaths, the location of a playground, the impact on wildlife, the lack of nearby facilities and the impact on road safety.

Parish councillors also claimed the development would be “uncoordinated” and “piecemeal” because part of the site is owned by another developer, Pennyfarthing Homes, which is likely to draw up its own scheme.

Cllr Carpenter said: "We have the nightmare scenario of a large number of homes also being proposed by Pennyfarthing as part of the same SS8 site, to the south, but as-yet unknown in quantity or design – or where they would put mitigating recreational space or wildlife areas. So how could anyone make a proper judgment on the Bargate part of the site until we knew what Pennyfarthing were doing?"

Hordle Parish Clerk Sarah Pitt said: “Hordle Parish Council is pleased the developer has withdrawn its planning application for the SS8 site. It hopes that any future plans will successfully address the many concerns raised by the parish council, local residents and various consulting authorities.”