COUNCIL VICTORY TO PROTECT COUNTRYSIDE

An appeal to overturn the council’s refusal of planning permission for 106 new homes in Botley has been dismissed by the Planning Inspector.
Foreman Homes/Vivid Housing Ltd submitted the application for the new development on land behind Sovereign Drive and Precosa Road in May 2020. It was turned down by borough councillors in October of that year.
The Planning Inspector considered the council’s objections on several grounds, including: the effect of the proposals on the settlement gap between Botley, Hedge End and Boorley Green; the poor quality of the proposed development’s design; the impact on neighbouring households, and the fact that any benefits of the scheme, in terms of providing much-needed housing, were far outweighed by its negative aspects.
Eastleigh Borough Council leader, Cllr Keith House, said: “We’re committed to the provision of quality housing and ensuring that the right homes are built in the right place. We’re very pleased that the Planning Inspector has endorsed our decision to refuse planning permission for this inappropriate development, which would have had a very negative impact on this part of the Borough.”