Milford Tesco plans – parish council recommends New Forest District Council refuse proposal for Keyhaven Road site

A PARISH council has sided with more than 450 villagers taking against plans for a new Tesco Express store.

Milford Parish Council’s planning committee met on Monday evening to consider its response to proposals for the shop on the site of a former car wash on Keyhaven Road.

The village hall was filled to capacity, with dozens of attendees also waiting outside as the plans were debated.

MPC deputy clerk Niamh Morrison said: “We knew the planning meeting would be busy – but we were unable to secure a larger venue so some residents also waited outside to hear the outcome.

“There was a lot of community engagement with six speakers representing the village traders and local residents. In addition around 65 members of the public were at the meeting – and everyone present was opposed to the application.”

Developer Harden Homes has applied to New Forest District Council for a change of use to a convenience store.

Under plans, two three-bedroom flats above the store would be retained and nine parking spaces created by removing a canopy.

The site, which has been vacant for a number of months, was previously a hand car wash, and prior to that it was a DIY store and petrol station. The new shop will be around 200m from the two existing convenience stores – One Stop and Co-op.

Ms Morrison said that after listening to “lots of community engagement” the parish council planning committee is recommending NFDC refuse the application.

She continued: “The parish council has many concerns relating to highways safety, noise and disturbance, the impact the scheme would have on the character of the area, the impact on local residents and the impact on the viability and vitality of the village centre.

“There is a real fear both among traders and local people that this could really undermine the village centre. Milford is already served by a butchers, a bakery, a newsagents, a greengrocers, two convenience stores and many other small, independently owned shops.

“The feeling of the parish council was that the site would be much better off developed as affordable houses to meet a significant local need.”

So far the scheme has received 456 objections from residents citing concerns about highways safety, the impact on existing village businesses and disturbance to neighbours.

One wrote: “All the current shops are around the green creating a vibrant hub for the commercial heart of the village. The existing convenience stores, as well as other food retailers would be impacted by a new Tesco store which undermines the viability of them around the green. I strongly object to any commercial operations spilling out from the centre into the residential areas.”

Another respondent added: “If this development is permitted it will significantly increase the traffic volume on Keyhaven Road from service vehicles, customers, and especially from large delivery vehicles.

“Navigating Keyhaven Road is already challenging, given a high number of road junctions and the many blind spots along this part of the route.”

However, a small number have written in support of the application. One said: “It is much better that the existing eyesore that has been left to deteriorate. Redevelopment can only enhance this area.”

The public have until 2nd July to comment on the plans.