A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build 120 homes in Overton has been given the green light by a Government planning inspector.

Urban planners Turley Associates launched a bid to build 120 homes on land next to Station Road, and north of the Overton Hill development, in April 2013.

Portals Property Limited, which is part of the De La Rue group, owns the land.

But Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council refused the outline planning application over concerns of the effect the development would have on the local area, questions over the sustainability of the site and concerns over provision for additional infrastructure.

However, the borough council wrote to the planning inspectorate in November to withdraw the first two reasons for refusal.

In addition, at a planning hearing held on January 13, Turley Associates produced a section 106 agreement which detailed the financial contributions that would be made towards infrastructure in the village.

And Government planning inspector David Spencer has now allowed the appeal, paving the way for Turley Associates to build 120 homes with up to 40 per cent affordable housing.

In his 16-page decision report, Mr Spencer pointed to the borough council’s lack of a five-year land supply and the need for affordable housing across the borough.

He said: “The appeal proposal would be satisfac-tory in terms of the three main issues identified. Indeed, it would bring considerable benefits including a notable contribution to housing supply in general and affordable housing particularly in a borough where there is a shortfall of deliverable housing land.”

However, Councillor Ian Tilbury, ward member for Overton, told The Gazette that he was disappointed with the level of developer contributions that will go towards community facilities.

He said: “It is quite shocking. At least education (contributions) was left untouched but soon kids will be going to Whitchurch which is going to cause some reactions, but, at least affordable housing was left in place.”

A spokesman for De La Rue said: “We are pleased that the appeal has gone the way it has and we haven’t got any comment to make at this stage.”

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