Green light expected for £1bn 1,500-home outline plans at Fawley power station

PLANS to redevelop the former Fawley power station with 1,500 new homes and commercial properties are expected to be approved next week.

As previously reported in the A&T, the consortium leading the near-£1bn scheme, Fawley Waterside, is seeking outline planning permission for the new homes as well as an underground car park with more than 2,000 spaces.

Over 100,000 square metres of new commercial, civic and employment space would be created and a new primary school could be built if there is enough demand.

Also proposed is public open space, a saltwater lagoon and new wild grazing land. Among the new dwellings would be about 470 affordable homes.

A report by an NFDC planning officer, which will be considered by the council’s planning committee next Monday, recommends it be approved and states: “The proposed development would transform a visually harmful brownfield site, with its redundant power station buildings, into an attractive, well designed and sustainable new community that would provide a significant number of new homes, including many affordable homes for local people, as well as significant employment opportunities, particularly in sectors that would complement the site’s unique context.

“Significant new areas of green infrastructure and habitat would be created, resulting in a more connected landscape that would benefit both people and biodiversity. The proposed development is considered to result in significant public benefits.”

The national park authority is also being urged to approve the application when it meets the following day.

A report to members states: “The impact of the proposed development on the sensitive landscape of the national park has been assessed through a landscape and visual impact assessment. The balance between built development and landscape infrastructure is considered to have been successfully reached and will mitigate the impact of the proposed development on the landscape.”

NDFC and the national park received around 100 objections to the proposals, with concerns about the impact on local roads as well as an increase in noise, pollution, lighting, littering and disturbance to wildlife.

Fawley Parish Council has recommended permission is granted, subject to major improvements on the A326 and BO3053. Totton and Eling Town Council along with Marchwood Parish Council felt the plans should not go ahead because of concerns over the potential traffic impact on local areas.