Winchester City Council approve 80-home scheme in Waltham Chase

The planning committee was split over the development of the brownfield site, Morgan’s Yard, in Solomons Lane.

The plan, by Cleanslate, includes 80 dwellings, with 10 per cent being affordable homes, commercial space, planting, habitat boxes, a play area, a new footpath and an open space centring around the existing oak tree.

Although the committee agreed the area needs to be developed, councillors had strong concerns over the density of housing.

READ MORE: Winchester planning: Councillors to decide 80-home scheme

Winchester City Council planning meeting (Image: Adele Bouchard)

Meon Valley ward councillor, Malcolm Wallace, said: “Waltham Chase required about 250 houses which has already been achieved.

“If the allocation is approved, housing will have increased by 40 per cent in little over 10 years.

“Young people are struggling to find affordable houses in this area however this proposal is just for eight of those homes to be affordable, which does not meet local needs.”

Ian Donohue, representing Shedfield Parish Council, said: “The proposal as it stands does not comply with policy and doesn’t really meet the needs of the parish.

“Looking at other developments in Waltham Chase this site is developed with only a token area of open space.”

The site location (Image: Winchester City Council)

SEE ALSO: Shedfield Parish Council objects to holiday let plan

Speaking in support, Simon Packer, agent to the developer, explained that the objectors were comparing the issues to green field sites where lower density is preferable.

Cllr Brian Laming wanted assurance that every house would have an electric vehicle charging point, which planning officer Rose Chapman said was not a requirement.

Cllr Laming also criticised the lack of sustainable features like solar panels and heat pumps, which Mr Packer said weren’t requirements of the current plans but would be under new regulations in future.

Cllr Danny Lee was supportive of the increase in biodiversity but was not impressed with Southern Water’s report on improving drainage with waste water already polluting the rivers in the area.

A row of conifers will also be removed and replaced with other trees across the site. Cllr Danny Lee asked whether this could be phased, to give the new trees time to mature.

Following the planning committee’s site visit on Monday, December 11, many of the committee members had concerns over the speed of traffic along Winchester Road, which borders the proposed site and would link up with the new footpath.

Committee chair, Cllr Jane Rutter, highlighted that the road is 30mph and “speeding drivers” was not a sufficient reason to reject the application.

Councillors Patrick Cunningham, Michael Read and Danny Lee all rejected the plan but it was approved by six votes to three at the meeting on Tuesday, December 12.