Wolverton Townsend housing plans rejected by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council after public backlash

Unpopular plans to build three houses on land to the west of the George and Dragon Hotel in Wolverton Townsend have been rejected.

The plans were submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on June 5 and have since garnered 67 public comments. Only one was made in support of the project.

Objectors took issue with the plans to build three four-bedroom houses on the one-acre plot of land for numerous reasons.

Wolverton Townsend resident Steve Nunn said: “I am concerned that if this goes ahead it will set a precedent for future developments within the hamlet of Wolverton Townsend and create a suburban feel to what is a peaceful hamlet surrounded by countryside where I have lived since 2002.”

Another Wolverton Townsend resident, Rachel Richardson, said: “The new access will be extremely dangerous as it is placed opposite existing driveways and visitors’ parking spaces.

“The constant flow of delivery vans and visitors have to park in the road if there is no space and this causes congestion on the blind summit.

“Those families, cyclist and dog walkers heading to and from the footpath will be at risk of a road traffic accident.”

Planning officers refused the plans on August 31 on several grounds.

These included that the proposed development “would represent an incongruous and suburban form of development that does not correspond with the rural character of the area”, the loss of open space would harm the “historical significance” of the George and Dragon Hotel and the houses “would be positioned in close proximity to a number of trees which are considered to be important features in the local landscape”.