Battle begins to stop 120 new homes being built in Oakley

Representatives from a newly-formed steering group attended Oakley Parish Council’s planning meeting to set out their concerns about Gleeson Developments’ plans for the site, on land west of Beech Tree Close.

The developer has submitted an application to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to request a screening opinion, which will determine whether an environmental statement is needed.

The application states that once a planning application is submitted, the company will seek to build up to 120 homes on the 5.5-hectare greenfield site, with open space, car parking and a new access from Beech Tree Close.

The site is made up of two fields of grassland which has been used for horse grazing for a number of years.

The northern field backs on to properties in Barn Close and Beech Tree Close, and is also partly in the conservation area.

When residents heard about the plans, a public meeting was held and attended by 100 villagers, some of whom formed a steering group.

Brian Hunkin, from the steering group, told Oakley Parish Council: “Residents only learned about this very recently, and we are rather shocked to find that 120 houses are being proposed on our doorstep.”

He added: “We are fully aware that in the Neighbourhood Plan, Oakley will most likely have to accept 150 houses in that plan.

“But we would like to see that future development shared around the village in small developments that hopefully have little impact on anyone rather than one part of the village having to accept 120 houses. We are trying to put together our plans as to how best to oppose it.”

Councillor Tom Favell, chairman of the planning meeting, said the council could not comment on the plans before they are submitted to the borough council.

Residents were told that once the plans were submitted, the council would book the school hall for its meeting to discuss them, in anticipation of many people turning up. The plans have yet to be submitted.