CIVIC chiefs have said they are disappointed with the decision to refuse a housing scheme at Dyson Drive. 

Winchester City Council's planning committee refused the plan for eight council homes last month. 

The city council's cabinet member for housing, Chris Westwood, told a meeting on Tuesday, November 14 that he was disappointed with the decision and revealed that the city council can't appeal the decision because it is the landowner.

Former city councillor Ian Tait said: “Dyson Drive has been part of the (housing) programme for many years. On October 18, I attended the planning committee and spoke in support of the housing scheme. This scheme dates back 15 years. To get the proposal to this point must have cost around £200,000. The decision to progress the scheme was supported by the ward councillors. 

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“It is my understanding that the council can't or won't appeal the refusal which went against the officers' recommendation. I feel this is completely inequitable and needs to be addressed. 

“It's very disappointing that at the final hurdle, at the planning committee, it was refused by a narrow margin. While Dyson Drive is used by local residents, there are other open spaces just 100m away. 

“This would have provided accommodation for around 38 people, so in human terms, it's very disappointing.”

The city council's monitoring officer Sharon Evans said: “The right to appeal is removed as the city council is the landowner. We can't take any action.”

Cllr Westwood confirmed that the scheme will be revisited in the future. He said: “We are disappointed that the application was refused, but we have to respect the planning committee's decision. We have a waiting list of 1,500 people for council homes. 

“The Dyson Drive scheme will be revisited at an appropriate time. It has not been put in the bin.”

City council officer Andrew Palmer said: “If we can address the issues we can revisit the scheme at some stage.”

David Chafe, chairman of Tenants and Council Together (TACT), said: “We're very disappointed with the decision on Dyson Drive.”

In a letter to the Chronicle, Conservative group leader Cllr Caroline Horrill said: “What a complete shambles and an absolute waste of public money bringing the decision forward and then rejecting it themselves.”

At the planning committee, the application was refused by six to three.