Former hunting lodge could be converted to 15 houses (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Former hunting lodge could be converted to 15 houses

12:30pm Sunday 28th October 2012 in Local By Chris Gregory

A FORMER hunting lodge and its grounds in Winchfield could be converted from offices to 15 houses, a meeting heard.

Details of the plan for Winchfield Lodge, in Old Potbridge Road, were aired at last week’s meeting of Winchfield Parish Council.

Chairman Andrew Renshaw said that Centrex, the owner of the 19th century building, has drawn up plans to split it into three residential units.

Twelve other houses would also be built in the grounds of Winchfield Lodge.

The lodge, built in 1883, was converted into offices in 2001.

The company has written to nearby residents to inform them of the plans and will hold an informal consultation evening at the lodge this evening. Mr Renshaw told The Gazette: “We have to think about what the residents have to say about it.

“But what I have seen of it, and I have been in there for early discussion with architects, is that it’s a very good scheme that will contribute to the housing numbers that we have to find.”

During the meeting, Tristram Cary, chairman of Winchfield Action Group, which successfully fought off a “Winchfield New Town” development of 4,000 houses, asked if this development would make other developments more likely.

Mr Renshaw said it was unlikely, as Winchfield Lodge is considered a brownfield and not a greenfield, site.

The meeting also heard that it is still unclear in a new housing masterplan how many new houses will have to be built in Winchfield.

The draft Local Plan, which will be discussed by Hart District Council tonight, earmarks 500 homes for rural areas in Hart, which includes Winchfield, as part of 2,301 planned for the district until 2029.

Centrex were not available for comment on their plan by the time The Gazette went to press.