Meeting over 240 new homes in Fordingbridge postponed

Fordingbridge Town Council’s planning committee were due to discuss the application for land on Station Road on September 9.

It will now be discussed on Wednesday, September 23, 7.30pm.

Prior to this it had been due to be considered at a meeting of the town council's planning committee on August 12.

A post on Fordingbridge Town Council's Facebook page said: "Consideration of this application by the Town Council will be deferred to an extraordinary planning committee meeting at 7.30pm on Wednesday 23rd September 2020 to allow further time for Hampshire Highways to issue its report on the application."

The application seeking outline planning permission for the development on land to the north of Station Road has been submitted to New Forest District Council by Infinite Homes Ltd.

The proposals include a new access off Station Road to the site as well as 10.7 hectares of open space, off-street car parking and access roads.

The site lies between Fordingbridge and Ashford.

There have been more than 100 objections submitted online over the plans on New Forest District Council’s website.

Concerns raised include the impact on traffic in Station Road and the town centre and infrastructure as well as on doctors, dentists and schools and concerns over the Station Road access.

A planning statement submitted with the plans states that of the 240 homes, 40 per cent would be affordable housing - including ten dwellings for assisted living.

There would be 12 one-bed properties, 95 two-bed, 113 three-bed homes, 16 four-bed dwellings and four five-bed properties. These would be made up of a mix of flats and terraced and semi-detached and detached properties.

As well as land for open space there would be 5km of new footpath, cycleway and bridleway routes.

Fordingbridge Town Council is able to comment on planning applications but the final decision is made by the planning authority, New Forest District Council.