IT WAS third time lucky for a developer to gain planning permission to build five new homes hear Kingsclere.

An application submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council sought to demolish existing stables and remove two mobile homes on land at Woodlands Park Farm, Ashford Hill.

At a development control committee meeting held on Wednesday, 7 February councillors approved the latest application, despite one ward councillor objecting to the proposal.

At the meeting Kingsclere ward councillor Donald Sherlock said that officers refused the plans before due to the site being deemed as too isolated and he did not believe there had been change to judgement.

At the meeting, Cllr Sherlock said: “It was agreed that the site is isolated last time, and there is no need for more housing in Ashford Hill and there is no employment opportunities.

“The access road problem is very important, and this is a random unneeded development in the settlement boundary policy.”

With approval granted, DGG Planning Ltd will now move forward to deliver a mix of housing sizes which comprises of a large, four-bedroom ‘barn’ at the rear of the site, a ‘stable’ terrace of three, three-bedroom dwellings and a small two-bedroom ‘barn’.

The developer said: “The design of the proposed dwellings are all of traditional form with their details and general appearance reflecting converted historic agricultural buildings.”

At the meeting last week, Baughurst and Tadley North ward councillor Michael Bound added: “I didn’t think the site was as isolated as the officers made it out to be. So I am pleased that this has come back and I am pleased it has come for approval.”

Chair of the committee Cllr Paul Miller said councillors need a better understanding of what is meant by a site being isolated if they are to make a decision on future sites.