Milford residents vow to fight on after 170-home Manor Road plans approved by New Forest District Council

FURIOUS Milford residents have vowed to continue fighting a controversial scheme for 170 new homes which was ratified at an NFDC planning meeting last week.

As reported, angry residents shouted and jeered as district councillors approved a controversial outline application by Pennyfarthing Homes to develop fields to the north of Manor Road.

The scheme, which includes 85 affordable homes, sparked hundreds of objections, including from the parish council, and resulted in a campaign group being formed.

The planning meeting held at NFDC’s headquarters in Lyndhurst, was attended by around 200 members of the public who turned out to oppose the scheme, which has been branded a “gross overdevelopment”.

Many opponents also claimed they were initially shut outside in the rain and then excluded from attending the meeting.

“When people did go in, they [NFDC staff] moved them into a room and tried to lock the door,” claimed one attendee. “They then said only the people that were speaking could go up.”

As the scheme was granted permission, one objector yelled: “Pennyfarthing should never be allowed to build another house in this area!”

Speaking at a Milford Parish Council meeting on Monday, NFDC member Cllr Alvin Reid described the decision as “shocking” and “terrible”. He said: “Residents put forward very valid arguments for refusal, and these were cast aside without any consideration.”

Chair of Milford Parish Council’s planning committee, Cllr Sue Whitlock, added: “There were quite a few councillors that didn’t join in the debate, didn’t answer a question or venture an opinion at all.”

Gill Watson, from the campaign group Milford Residents for Sustainable Development, said: “There is one body that should be apologising, and that is NFDC.”

She continued: “The voice of the community was absolutely ignored and the very valid points that we put forward were deliberately excluded.

“We haven’t yet decided our way forward but the gravity of the situation I cannot stress enough – it was a very sad day for democracy.”

“The anger in that room was huge – it was a shameful day.”

MRSD has now pledged to seek expert advice, adding that they will continue to fight the proposal.

“We would like to think the parish council are supportive if we take this further, which we are planning to do” said Ms Watson. “We believe there are very solid grounds to take it further – Milford has some deep pockets to fight this.”

As reported in the A&T, a previous bid to develop the site with 190 homes was withdrawn.

The latest scheme features a mixture of properties, ranging from one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as three, four and five-bedroom homes.

It also included children’s play areas, and spots of alternative natural recreation green space to be used by residents and the wider community.

The site will be served by three vehicle access points from Manor Road, along with a pedestrian and cycle access from Lymington Road.

Opponents had argued the site should be developed with no more than 110 homes – a figure set out in New Forest District Council’s development plan for the location.

More than 680 letters of objection were lodged, and MRSD argued that the scheme would destroy the character of the village, endanger children attending the nearby primary school, and exacerbate flooding and sewage problems.

The scheme was also branded a “gross overdevelopment” by Milford Parish Council.

As reported, Cllr Sue Whitlock told the NFDC planning meeting: “Never has Milford cared so much and in such great numbers about any local issue. Please listen to the people.”

During the NFDC debate, Cllr David Hawkins said: “I think the arguments put forward by the residents and parish council are very valid – and it is not nimby-ism.”

Cllr Malcolm Wade said he understood the “depth of emotion” of residents, but warned: “New Forest District Council has not built enough houses over time, and everybody now with a development in their community is actually paying the price, as there is no way to fight against it [at appeal] and win.”

Cllr John Sleep added: “Each town or village has to expand, and unfortunately anyone who lives with a green field behind them spends their whole life expecting that field to be developed.”

The outline scheme was granted permission by six votes to four.

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