BATTLELINES have been drawn over plans to build almost 50 homes on the edge of Winchester.
Shorewood Homes has applied for permission to tear down Pitt Manor, in Romsey Road, and replace it with 48 new houses. The application also covers landscaping, the creation of public open space, and drainage.
City council officers have recommended that the plan be permitted, with the officers report saying: “The development is recommended for permission as it is considered that it will respond positively to the character, appearance and variety of the local environment, is acceptable in terms of highway safety and would not harm neighbouring residential amenity and is in accordance with the development plan.”
However, the application is being brought before the WCC planning committee due to the number of objections, including from Cllr Martin Tod and Cllr Charlie Wise. According to the officer’s report, the council has received 46 letters of objection, with 21 in support.
The objectors cite concerns over the impact on highways and access, a lack of visitor parking, noise pollution and a lack of affordable housing.
In his objection, Cllr Wise said: “The proposed development fails to include any on-site affordable housing, which is wholly out of character with the surrounding area. Situated adjacent to the mixed-tenure Winchester Village and directly opposite the Stanmore estate, this application not only ignores the serious need for more local affordable housing provision, it disregards the social and community fabric of this location.”
Claire Mallinson, of Kilham Lane, objected, saying that the application “is flawed on multiple grounds”.
Kilham Lane (Image: Google Maps)
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She added: “The infrastructure around the proposed land is wholly unsuitable for this project in its current guise. It would create unmanageable traffic and cause further significant air pollution in the area, which is already higher than WHO recommended safe levels.”
Chris Hewitt, also of Kilham Lane, said: “The traffic levels currently experienced within Kilham Lane are already dangerous and will only be exacerbated by this development.
The development being so close to very large trees is also undesirable and can easily be illustrated from the manner in which arboricultural issues were addressed by the Council's arboricultural team in the nearby development at Silkstead Park which has resulted in trees dying and being further cut back and reduced. This type of development so close to major parkland trees should be avoided.”
The lodge house on the corner of Romsey Road and Lanham Lane would be retained.
Meanwhile, supporters of the scheme have argued that it is “well designed and thought out”, and that new houses are needed in Winchester.
Katie Oakley, of Milverton Road, Fulflood,supported the application, saying: “This development is a step in the right direction as increasing the supply of homes will help meet demand and, over time, improve affordability.”
As previously reported by the Chronicle, this is not the first time that developers have tried to build on this land, with a controversial plan for 200 homes on the land being submitted approximately 10 years ago.
The new application will be decided by Winchester City Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, June 11, as the Chronicle goes to press.