Affordable homes scheme for Tadley is unveiled

ALMOST 100 homes could be built next to Bishopswood golf course in Tadley.

Mr and Mrs Penson have submitted an outline planning application for the development of up to 90 houses on an unused parcel of land in the north-east corner of the golf course, with the entrance off Deanswood Road.

All of the homes would be designated as ‘affordable’ – meaning they would be sold at 80 per cent of market value to eligible buyers.

The application is only for outline planning permission, with all matters reserved except for access.

This means the only issue to be considered at the first instance is access from Deanswood Road, currently a 12-house cul-de-sac, with the proposal for the road to be extended south and the hammerhead removed.

The design, appearance, scale, landscaping and the total number of houses would be decided at a later date.

The location of the site – which is outside the Tadley settlement boundary – is expected to cause some contention.

Under the Basingstoke and Deane local plan, housing developments outside settlement boundaries can only be allowed for one of six reasons, including “for a rural exception site for affordable housing” [item b].

A planning statement put together by the applicant argues: “The proposed development of 100 per cent affordable housing is compliant with item b) whereby the provision is entirely associated with bringing benefit to the local community.

“Furthermore, given that the site abuts the settlement boundary within which there are many facilities, the site is not at all isolated.

“All relevant provisions such as public transport links, shops, healthcare, libraries, et cetera, are all present within Tadley, and to which this site is centrally located.”

The site is also located in the corner of the Tadley and Baughurst strategic gap, which helps keep the settlements apart and maintain their separate identities.

Under Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s local plan, development is only allowed in strategic gaps where “it wouldn’t diminish the physical and/or visual separation, and wouldn’t compromise the integrity of the gap either individually or cumulatively with other existing or proposed development.”

However, the applicant states that “the proposed development will infill only a small part in a position which is already bounded on two sides by the existing settlement, and on the other two sides by the golf course”.

“As a consequence, the effect is minimal, it has no effect on any wider view or character of openness and therefore will not materially or harmfully undermine the aims of the strategic gap.

“The fact that it is contained on all sides confirms that it doesn’t represent the start of an otherwise uncontrollable spread.”

The application will now go to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for consideration.

To view or comment on the plans, visit the borough council’s planning portal and enter the reference 21/01668/OUT.