AN APPLICATION to build two detached dwellings and garages and the formation of a new access and landscaping has been refused by the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The decision to reject the application for Larkspur House, Newbury Road, Headley, was taken at a development control committee meeting last week.

The cllrs who attended the meeting were split on their decisions. While six people voted in favour of rejecting the proposal, four councillors said it should be approved. Two councillors abstained from voting.

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The planning officer had recommended approval of the application subject to conditions.

Based on the votes, the council decided to refuse the application because of the impact on the landscape and the highways.

In its refusal notice, the council wrote: “[The plan] would result in an over urbanisation of the site with a domination of built form, access, hardstanding's with a corresponding increase in parked vehicles, which cumulatively would have adverse effects on this rural edge location, impacting on the surrounding landscape character.

“In addition, the access road represents a cul-de-sac road arrangement introducing a more urban character to this edge of village location.”

The debate saw Cllr Stuart Frost, who represents Tadley North, Kingsclere & Baughurst ward, arguing against the application citing the traffic issues and biodiversity impact.

“This is a traffic hotspot and an accident hotspot, because it is so narrow,” cllr Frost said.

“I struggle a bit from the biodiversity aspect [of the application] and subsequent loss of habitats and biodiversity. The biodiversity study was carried out on a day in January. How can diversity be truly measured on a day in the winter when everything is asleep?”

However, Cllr Michael Howard-Sorrell, who represents Brookvale and Kings Furlong, said he can’t see four extra vehicles causing any significant uptick in the number of accidents along the road.

He said: “If you read through the report in detail, there is quite a lot of emphasis on the fact that it is a hotspot already for extra vehicles. To me, it is not a material concern that we can refuse this.”

The planning officer also pointed out that the Hampshire County Council doesn't see it causing any harm or adverse impact on the highway, and hence refusing it on those grounds would potentially open the council up to an appeal.

However, six the council decided to refuse the application based on six votes against four.

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