RESIDENTS are strongly objecting to a plan to build 101 entry-level dwellings with parking and landscaping on a ‘controversial’ land in Sherfield-on-Loddon.

The outline application on the planning portal of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has received 74 public comment – 73 of them objecting – at the time of writing this report.

READ MORE: Cllr against plans to build 101 dwellings in Sherfield-on-Loddon

The developer’s plan is to build houses on land at Dixon Road, Taylor’s Farm in Sherfield-on-Loddon, where currently there is permission for one gypsy and traveller pitch contingent to stay.

Andrew Sleight, one of the residents who is objecting to the plan, wrote: “I vehemently object to a planning application of 101 gypsy dwellings in a site that has already wasted years of peoples time and energy watching the unlawful destruction of a large-wooded area of protected trees which have still, to this day, not been restocked despite an order from the Forestry Commission itself.

“Previous applications for just three gypsy pitches under reference 14/02362 have been refused. So it would be a ludicrous and subsequently flawed decision to allow 101 permanent dwellings.

“The owners are clearly trying to manipulate the system for their own selfish gain and are making a mockery of the planning process.”

Simon Harris is another resident who has voiced his concerns because of unexploded bombs in this site.

He wrote: “I understand this site is at high risk of containing unexploded world war bombs and other war material which would be a danger to me as a neighbour to the site and could result in disruption resulting from discovery of such items and the required exclusion zones.

“Additionally, if controlled explosions were required, I am aware that there may be damage to neighbouring properties, even in the event of the detonations being controlled in nature. I also have concerns about the access from the A33 into this proposed development. There is already a new development off Taylor's Farm roundabout which is not yet occupied by residents.

Traffic in the morning and evening on the A33 in this area is very busy and is often you have to queue. Any further junctions or increased traffic flow to and from new residential areas will negatively impact pollution levels and inconvenience existing residence and those that use the route to get to and from work and school. I am also aware that the area is subject to certain forestry restrictions and also is the subject of a penalty having been issued for unauthorised tree felling which is still outstanding.”

The former ministry-of-defence land was in controversy in 2014 when the owners felled and burned around 250 trees, which sparked fears among residents that the work paved the way for travellers to move in.

But, following the incident, the Forestry Commission stepped in and ordered the owners to replant all trees by June 2015.

In 2017, a planning permission for three Gypsy pitches on the 3.97-hectare land was refused by the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC).

However, one of the pitches successfully appealed against the decision.

According to the application, the permitted Gypsy owners have entered into a contract with the applicant company Basingstoke Holdings Ltd, but have made it known that “if residential development is not forthcoming, they intend to promote the site for more Gypsy and Traveller pitches”.

Based on this, the owners put forward the site in the council’s call-for-sites exercise in July 2021 for additional pitches.

The current outline planning application proposes to construct a new access from the A33 with the existing access off Dixon Road reserved as an Emergency Access. The plan proposes 176 spaces for parking cars and 210 spaces for cycles.

Vanessa Kelly’s reason for objection is the access from the A33.

She wrote: “It would be very dangerous with the additional traffic , especially given there have been accidents in this area already.

“The application for 100 per cent starter/affordable homes does not comply with Principle 2.5 of the Borough Housing SPD The resulting urban sprawl does not protect the ancient village and hamlet communities in this area The whole site is covered by a TPO yet the plan mentions trees being felled. There was previously unlicensed felling on this site with legal sanctions outstanding. The ground may be contaminated with dangerous gases so a full investigation and report needs to be undertaken.”

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Last week, Cllr Jenny Vaux, who represents Chineham ward, had voiced her objection to the outline application through a Facebook post.

To view the outline planning application, search reference number 22/00122/OUT on BDBC's planning portal.

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