A VILLAGE shop could be introduced as part of a new housing development.

At a development control committee meeting held on Wednesday, 6 September members of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) approved plans to build 18 new homes on land south of Cranes Road, in Sherborne St John.

As part of the outline planning application submitted by Rydon Homes Ltd, there is a provision for a new village shop, which was welcomed by ward councillor Tristan Robinson.

Out of the 18 new homes, seven of these will be affordable homes, to fit in with the borough’s policy of delivering 40 per cent affordable homes.

The site is the first to go before the committee which is a allocated site within the Sherborne St John Neighbourhood Plan, which was adopted by the borough council in May. At the meeting, cllr Tristan Robinson praised efforts made by BDBC officers in delivering the application in line with the neighbourhood plan and welcomed a village shop.

He said: “The village shop was a key desire of the local community and it is absolutely vital to secure this.

“I would like to see more done at reserved matters stage regarding the design layout of the proposed development.”

Cllr Robinson added: “If the shop is deemed unviable I would like some reassurance as to how that land would be used in the future. If a shop is not done for any reason that land [should be] given to the community in some capacity.”

Kingsclere ward councillor, cllr Ken Rhatigan asked at the meeting if the shop was deemed not viable, whether it could be adopted as affordable housing, but council officers said this would be a matter for discussion at a later stage. Cllr Rhatigan added: “It is important that we need to be establishing communities, with affordable housing and the right housing mix.