A LONG-awaited plan has been given the green light, but not without controversy.

A care home, pub, retirement home and new dental surgery is set to be built on 'The Island ’ site off Beggarwood Lane Beggarwood, after being approved by borough councillors.

However, the proposal has not come without contention as campaigners expressed reservations at a development control committee meeting week.

Grainger Plc will develop a 70-bed care home, 42 retirement homes, a pub and a dental surgery despite many objections to the application.

Members of the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council committee insisted a number of conditions have to be met.

At the meeting held at the civic offices, in London Road on Wednesday last week, Stafford Nappier from South West Action Group (SWAG) said the site had been designated as structural open space.

He said: “These obligations have not been fulfilled with all vegetation being stripped off. The site has been compromised further with parking, and construction rubbish piled on it, becoming what you (the borough council) may now see as ripe for development.”

Despite concerns raised by residents there has been support for the application, specifically the need for a family pub and the expansion of a larger dental practice.

Hatch Warren and Beggarwood ward councillor Terri Reid said: “There is support for this application already and I have been told for the need of a family pub.

“The history of the site has been difficult and problematic. If it is granted I ask that some mitigations are looked at.

“Can we have some conditions as to what happens during the building phase. And make sure the landscaping is properly enforced.”

In a near two-and-a-half hour discussion on the plans, several councillors raised concerns around the parking prevision and that the 40 per cent affordable housing prevision outlined in the borough council’s local plan is not being met for the retirement home development.

Hatch Warren and Beggarwood ward councillor Rebecca Bean added: “I do have concerns about the development phase with parking issues for construction traffic.

“Beggarwood is plagued with parking issues.”

Baughurst and Tadley North councillor Michael Bound added: “There is a lot of good things about this proposal, the dental surgery is required by the people of Beggarwood. I do question the parking situation but there is a need.

“Though I have a problem with the affordable housing and that it is being dismissed in the application.”

However, despite many councillors supporting the application as long as the conditions are met, Kingsclere ward councillor Donald Sherlock said: “I am not happy with this at all. It is a mish-mash of services and I don’t see how they complement one another.

“And the point is it is not in the settlement boundary. “

The application was approved, subjected to conditions on the parking layout, landscape management and the construction method.