WINCHESTER City Council planners have approved an application to transform a former post office site into new homes.
As previously reported, Alderbury Homes want to demolish the closed Waltham Chase Convenience Store in Winchester Road and build four new homes.
The application also covered the construction of access, parking and associated works to make the properties viable.
Winchester City Council’s Planning Committee approved the plans on Wednesday, August 14.
Speaking in opposition, Shedfield parish councillor Margaret Jones said that she strongly objects to the application.
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She said: “I have lived in this area all my life. I know the site well, it is important to the street scene of Waltham Chase, and its building dates back to the 1900s.
“The parish council feels that the existing buildings should be retained and refurbished unless there is an overriding reason this cannot be done for structural reasons.
“The gap between the neighbour and the post office is too narrow, something which was commented on by urban design. The parking provided will not be sufficient for the occupants, guests or deliveries. Plots Three and Four will have to juggle their vehicles to get in and out and turn around, something that is only possible if there is no visitor parking.
“There is a similar development opposite Morgan’s Garage, by this developer, which exits onto Winchester Road, and it has been witnessed where delivery or taxies pull into the drive then can’t turn around and then reverse onto the main road.”
Cllr Jones also raised concerns over flooding in the village, calling it a big problem.
Speaking in support of the application, agent Jacob Goodenough said: “Regenerating sites like this one is essential to meeting the district's housing needs. Parking is in accordance with the local area. The development has been designed in consultation with officers, and adjustments have been made at the request of officers and in response to comments received during the application. This includes reducing building height.”
Cllr Jonathan Williams, who represents Bishop's Waltham, said: “I have listened carefully to the concerns and the questions that have been raised here.
“There have been many reasons stated not to support the application, but unfortunately, we must judge the application on our planning policies, and we must judge it on its own merits.
“The consultees have not raised any significant objections, and the amended plans do take into consideration some issues which have been raised. There have been issues raised, but they don’t fall into our material planning reasons not to support the application, so I will be supporting it.”
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Committee chair Cllr Jane Rutter also said that she would support the application, saying: “I think all the concerns about the flooding and wildlife is properly addressed in the conditions and have been looked at carefully.
“I understand the concerns of residents, but unfortunately you cannot use planning law and you cannot use this particular small development as a way of beating over the head Southern Water, despite the fact they probably need beating over the head, to improve drainage in the whole area.
“This is a concern for the whole area, it cannot make things very worse. But unfortunately, it won’t make things better.”
The application was approved by seven votes to one.
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