Homefield School to be used again (From Bournemouth Echo)

Homefield School to be used again

7:06pm Monday 16th November 2009

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A DILAPIDATED former private school in Winkton is set to be transformed after councillors at Christchurch Borough Council gave the go-ahead to extensive development plans.

Homefield School, which closed in 2005, nearly £1 million in debt, will be turned into a 64-bed care home with 27 independent living units despite the concerns of many residents.

Previous applications have been made more complex due to the building being situated in a conservation area as well as in the green belt.

But officers, who recommended the application for approval subject to a number of conditions, said the inappropriateness of the new buildings is outweighed by enhancements to the openness of the green belt.

More than 41 letters of objection were submitted from residents concerned about the loss of privacy, insufficient parking and the detrimental affect on the character of Winkton village, with the parish council and residents association also raising concerns about the design of the building and increased traffic movements.

Cllr David Jones, chairman of the planning committee, said: “I really found that this was one of the most difficult applications we have had to consider.

“There were a lot of valid concerns from the local community which we did take into consideration, especially as the development is in the green belt.

“But ultimately this is a building that is only going to get more dilapidated and rundown as time goes on and we had to make a decision, which was an extremely close one.”

Carlo Navato from Haxted Estates and Parkridge Care, said: “After two-and-a-half years of concerted effort and close collaboration with Christchurch council and the local community we are obviously delighted with the decision reached by the planning committee.

“When the formal approval process is completed we look forward to commencing development and breathing new and vibrant life into the derelict site.”

Judy Jamieson, chairman of Burton Parish Counci,l said: “We hope that the conditions will be strictly adhered to as a number of concerns were raised.”

Keith Cavill, chairman of Winkton Residents Association added: “This was a lamentable decision by the planning committee on an application that the chairman acknowledged to be difficult to decide.

“It surprised us that there was little or no meaningful debate on key issues, such as whether the rehabilitation of the site justified such a large mixed use development,” he added.

“Despite the doubts, permission was granted in the teeth of stiff local opposition, and we sincerely hope that the Secretary of State for the Environment will call in the application for more exacting scrutiny,” he added.

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