Plans for Fawley Waterside development under review, as Cadland Estate owner Aldred Drummond steps back from project

The future of a controversial £1-billion 1,380-home coastal town is up in the air, with the plans under review.

The Fawley Waterside project, headed by Cadland Estate owner Aldred Drummond, was previously branded “one of the most beautiful new towns in England”.

An outline proposal for the scheme, on the former power station site, was given the green light by New Forest District Council in mid-2020.

But progress had stalled, with final legal agreements still yet to be completed.

Now the consortium behind the scheme has confirmed Mr Drummond has “stepped back” from the day-to-day management of the project.

A spokesperson for Fawley Waterside added: “He remains part of a firmly committed group of investors behind the project.

“The team is currently in the process of working with its advisors to review the current plans for the scheme and to determine the next steps to advance the development of the site, and we look forward to sharing further news in due course.”

Companies House records show Mr Drummond resigned as a director of Fawley Waterside Ltd on 5th September 2023.

He remains the sole director of Fawley Waterside Management Ltd.

As well as residential properties, the project also included areas of new commercial, civic and employment space, an underground car park, public open space, new grazing land and a primary school if there was demand.

Before it was demolished in 2021, the power station and its futuristic control room had starred in films and TV, including Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and Red Dwarf. It was closed in 2013.

In 2022 a meeting of NFDC heard the lack of progress was down to “a complex set of negotiations” between the district council, Fawley Waterside, Hampshire County Council and the national park authority.

The news of the review was branded “a real worry” by county councillor for Totton and Marchwood, Cllr David Harrison.

He said: “I personally hope that the development will still go ahead, largely as planned.

“Given all of the work and effort that has been undertaken to plan this new town, it is a real worry to find out that the whole enterprise is under review, especially after all the necessary planning permissions were in place.

“Of course, the doubts also impact on other areas, including the business case for widening the A326.”

He added: “I would like Hampshire County Council to put their road building plans on hold. I think a lot of people would sooner see money invested in better road maintenance or even the restoration of the Waterside railway passenger service.”