Concerns put homes plan on hold (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Concerns put homes plan on hold

9:45am Tuesday 17th April 2007

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PLANS to build nearly 300 new homes on a Basingstoke town centre site have stalled after concerns that there are too many "unresolved issues".

The amended application from David Wilson Homes and Sovereign Housing Group for the mixture of studios, apartments, flats and houses in Churchill Way West had been criticised by local residents and more than 180 had signed a petition against it.

This set of proposals does not meet the end desire for a principal development in the town. It’s a mix that does not quite work.

Cllr Kenneth Rhatigan

Three residents spoke to members of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's development control committee, expressing their worries about the 291-home plan.

Martin Edge, who lives in Victory Hill, said people were opposed to the design and location of a five-storey "focal" building planned for the site.

He added that the development would have a "substantial adverse effect" on Victory Hill residents, as 24 apartments would be directly overlooked.

Malcolm MacInnes, chairman of the development sub-committee of Brookvale Community Association, outlined 10 points that the committee was unhappy with, including unacceptable noise barriers, concerns over future sewerage and flooding problems and that the emergency access was not disabled-friendly.

He said: "It is unacceptable that these proposed homes are not 21st century homes."

Councillor Doris Jones, ward councillor for Brookvale and Kings Furlong, said: "After the withdrawal of the first plans, we were expecting so much more when the new plans were submitted."

Speaking for David Wilson Homes, Bhavash Vashi, an architect from Broadway Malyan Architects, said the firm believed some of the key issues had been resolved.

He added: "We have, over 18 months, dealt with officers and had extensive consultation."

Proposing a deferral of the plans, Cllr Kenneth Rhatigan said: "This set of proposals does not meet the end desire for a principal development in the town. It's a mix that does not quite work. It has much to commend it, but much to detract from it."

Councillors voted unanimously to defer the plans on the grounds of design and layout, including parking, sewerage and flooding, noise and noise abatement from the road and railway, options for access to the site from Victory Hill, access from Churchill Way West dual carriageway and disabled access.

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