Decision to withdraw plans for Fawley Waterside development blasted by New Forest Lib Dems

The withdrawal of plans for a £1bn major new town on the Waterside has been blasted as “an utter waste of time and money”.

As reported in the A&T, the consortium behind Fawley Waterside announced last week it would not be pursuing plans for the former power station site, which was given the green light by New Forest District Council in mid-2020.

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, in addition to the creation of around 2,000 jobs.

The decision was blasted by New Forest Liberal Democrats, who said the resignation earlier this year of Cadland Estate owner Aldred Drummond, who had been a director of Fawley Waterside, made it “very clear the whole project was in doubt”.

Lib Dem leader Cllr Malcolm Wade said: “We had some inkling of these problems when the section 106 agreements had still not been signed off.

“Of major concern to local Liberal Democrats is the loss of affordable housing contained within the development. This was a golden opportunity, now snatched away, to provide much-needed housing stock to alleviate our significant housing challenges right across the district.”

He added: “What concerns us now is the prolonged delay whilst discussions over the use and future development of the site takes place. That could take months, if not years.

“We want New Forest District Council to contribute to the design of this development to ensure it benefits the existing local environment, local Waterside residents and produces sustainable development for future Waterside residents to live in.

“In the meantime, the development of the Freeport continues apace; in the refinery and ABP’s plans for Dibden Bay, and the A326 continues to be tinkered with by the county council, including bus lanes going nowhere – much to the exasperation of all drivers.

“The sanguine attitude of NFDC’s administration is hardly the right response, and on behalf of the affected communities right along the Waterside we’re calling for a prompt response from all parties to show some sound leadership and early resolution.”

The party plans to formally raise the matter at NFDC’s next meeting in September to determine how much has been spent on the scheme to date.

Cllr Wade added the decision would have been “clearly known about” when NFDC met last Monday, but was not communicated to members.

He added: “We won't now get the opportunity to ask questions until 16th September. It absolutely stinks from our point of view, so we're pretty angry about it.

“Officer time must be enormous. All the planning committee time to approve outline planning permission, etc. The demolition costs [and] all the environmental issues that needed to be put into place. For what? What an utter waste of time and money.”

Liberal Democrat Cllr David Harrison, who represents Totton, told the A&T he was “saddened” by the news.

He added: “I know how much work and expense went into planning this scheme. It had many potential benefits, including jobs, new homes and even some environmental gains.

“The worry is, what will happen on such a large site now this scheme isn't going to happen? It also has a major impact on the viability of the proposed A326 road widening scheme, which is getting more costly by the day. The case for dropping it has grown a lot stronger."

A spokesperson for Fawley Waterside confirmed applications for the redevelopment of the site had today been formally withdrawn as it was no longer viable.

It added: “Fawley Waterside will continue working closely and collaboratively with both New Forest District Council and the New Forest National Park Authority to consider the most appropriate development strategy for the site.”

The A&T has approached Cadland Estate for comment.