Homes plan set for approval after appeal success
Planners are powerless to stop nearly 50 new homes being built – even though they have previously rejected the proposals.
Developer Taylor Wimpey has submitted a detailed application to Fareham Borough Council for 47 new homes off of Shetland Rise in Whiteley, near Fareham.
The council threw out an application for the site in March 2007.
But after an appeal heard by a government-appointed inspector, the decision was overturned and outline permission was granted in November 2007.
One detailed application was rejected by a council officer in July last year on the grounds that the layout was inappropriate and sufficient plans had not been put in place to manage protected species in the area such as bats, dormice and reptiles.
But Taylor Wimpey has now ironed out these problems to the satisfaction of the Environment Agency and other departments' officers.
Reacting to the new plan, 14 residents have written to the council to object – mainly raising concerns about design, traffic and access and the impact on the infrastructure.
But it seems the application will go ahead because the council now feels unable to turn it down.
Ward councillor Sean Woodward said: 'There are certain elements that are beyond the council's control, but there are still some things we will be able to have a say on.
'I have held two meetings with the residents to put their concerns to Taylor Wimpey.'
As a result the developer has agreed to limit delivery hours so they will not take place during school opening and closing times.
The plans had been expected to go before the committee last month, but were withdrawn because of concerns over the roads being too narrow for cars to pass safely. The developer has now agreed to widen the roads.
Councillor Woodward has also asked Taylor Wimpey to hand over the ancient woodland next to the site to the council, but this is still under negotiation.
The two-and-a-half-acre site will include 18 two-bed flats, 16 two-bed houses, and 13 three-bed houses with 94 allocated parking spaces and 18 garages.
The officer's report recommends approving the scheme.
The latest application will be decided on by the planning committee at 2.30pm on Wednesday.