A developer has won an appeal against the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s decision earlier this year to refuse its proposed 42-flat retirement complex in Tadley.

McCarthy Stone’s appeal has been approved by a Planning Inspectorate months after the borough council rejected the original application on an issue surrounding affordable housing.

McCarthy Stone submitted plans in October 2018 that would see the Reading Warehouses building and 48 New Road, Tadley, redeveloped with 42 one- and two-bedroom retirement living apartments for private sale, together with landscaped gardens and on-site car parking.

The plans also included a new retail space, with five affordable apartments above.

The plans were approved in November 2019, but without the condition that if there was no interest from registered social landlords in the five affordable units, McCarthy Stone instead pay a contribution towards off-site affordable housing – as part of a required Section 106 agreement.

This was something that McCarthy Stone says it wanted, to ensure that these homes would not remain unoccupied upon completion.

According to a council report, members expressed concerns regarding the ability to identify affordable housing schemes in the Tadley area, and where the total contribution of the Section 106 agreement could be spent given restrictions on development.

Officers subsequently suggested that, in the event that there is no interest from registered social landlords, and apartments also cannot be occupied through direct referrals of “qualifying purchasers”, then the five apartments be offered to the general market at 80 per cent of the market value, thereby still providing a discounted, affordable rate.

McCarthy Stone agreed to this, and the recommendation was put forward by council officer Mike Townsend to the development control committee.

However, at its meeting in January 2021, the committee rejected this option, meaning that the application overall was refused.

When it decided to appeal against the decision, McCarthy Stone also submitted a duplicate application to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, as they initially hoped that these matters could be agreed expeditiously outside of the Appeal process.

However, this did not happen.

But with the Planning Inspectorate approving the appeal now, McCarthy Stone has submitted a small number of design amendments to the plans through a duplicate application.

These changes include a reduced ridge height on part of the Retirement Living apartment building, revised window and balcony positions, amendments to the flat roof sections to better reflect the apartment types and minor material alterations.

McCarthy Stone has not responded the Gazette’s question on whether there has been any change in the decision on affordable housing.

Shane Paull, Divisional Managing Director for McCarthy Stone Southern Division commented “We are delighted that following the disappointing refusal of our application by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, our plans for much-needed retirement accommodation, alongside a retail unit and affordable apartments in Tadley have subsequently been approved at Appeal by the Planning Inspectorate, who considered the Council’s case unreasonable, and as such, awarded us full costs for the unnecessary expenses incurred.

“Our plans will help meet an acknowledged and growing need for this type of accommodation in the area, whilst ensuring the continuity of the long-established retail use on-site. We are looking forward to beginning work to deliver this development in the coming months.”

A spokesperson for McCarthy Stone said the firm is hopeful that the current amended application will be approved by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.