A PLAN to bring new affordable housing to Tadley has been refused after an 11th hour appeal.

BradPlan LLP had applied for permission to build 17 new apartments on land adjacent to Aldermaston Road and Boundary Place.

However, an appeal from the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) meant that Basingstoke and Deane Borough Councillors had to refuse the application.

At a development control committee meeting on Wednesday last week, councillors heard the appeal had only come to the attention of members and the applicant at 6pm – just 30 minutes before the meeting was due to start.

AWE claimed the application to provide two one-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom apartments would mean the number of residents at the site would be not be in keeping with the off-site emergency planning arrangements put in place by the Office for Nuclear Regulation.

Councillors told the applicants that ordinarily they would have supported the bid, but without the correct “legal guidance” they had to refuse.

Baughurst and Tadley North ward councillor Robert Tate said: “The application is on effectively a dead site. This application provides an opportunity of rebuilding of that site and takes into account much-needed housing.

“This is something that is worth fighting for and shows that the community benefit to that site.”

But other councillors said they could not back the plans due to the last-minute appeal.

Popley East ward councillor David Potter said: “I am usually one to be supporting these types of applications, especially where there is 100 per cent affordable housing involved.

“But because of the issue that has been raised in the appeal, I regrettably have no choice but to vote in favour of refusal.”

Tadley South ward councillor, Cllr David Leeks added: “No matter the outcome I would like this redundant mess of a site cleaned up.

“It has been left vacant for too long and we need to do something with it.”

The committee refused approval.