Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council approves plans for 42 homes to be built in Bishops Green
Controversial plans for 42 homes to be built in Bishops Green were approved at the second time of asking last week.
The plans were brought before Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s development control committee on Wednesday, March 8, after the housing development plans were previously approved at a committee meeting on December 7 last year.
The reason for this repetition was because the council recently agreed that the Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green Neighbourhood Plan should proceed to referendum, something planners deemed an important factor that councillors should consider.
Chair of Ecchinswell, Sydmonton & Bishops Green Parish Council Marian Dain spoke at last Wednesday’s meeting and said: “This application is contrary to many of the policies in our [neighbourhood] plan.”
She spoke about the negative effects the development could have on the small village because it lacks the infrastructure in place to cope with an influx of new residents.
Ms Dain said: “Approval of this application would undermine the principle of localism and the validity of our neighbourhood plan in the eyes of our residents.”
On behalf of the parish council, she also said that it would be appealing the decision and taking it to the secretary of state if the homes were approved.
A representative for the applicant Hathor Property said: “Fundamentally, the resolution to grant permission would not prejudice the neighbourhood plan.
“Whilst the weight of the neighbourhood plan has changed now the examiner’s report has been published, equally, the examiner’s report itself takes into account the resolution to grant and confirms the proposals would not prejudice the plan.
“This could be argued to strengthen the recommendation to approve.”
He also said that the neighbourhood plan does not provide enough provision for affordable homes within the parish, while the 17 affordable homes in the development would “meet local need”.
John Izett (Con, Evingar) asked his fellow councillors to consider the Ecchinswell, Sydmonton and Bishops Green Neighbourhood Plan when making their decision.
He said: “Can councillors having agreed to delay the Local Plan Update in order to reduce the housing target in the borough, vote with a clear conscience in favour of a planning application that does the opposite and skewers this parish’s emerging neighbourhood plan?
“I hope councillors tonight will reflect and not put at risk the 14th neighbourhood plan [in the borough] for Ecchinswell and Bishops Green.”
Moving the plan for approval, Ken Rhatigan (Con, Tadley North, Kingsclere and Baughurst) said it would be “slightly bizarre” if the council decided to refuse the homes having approved them just three months ago.
The 42 homes were approved after 10 councillors voted in favour, and three objected.