AN APPLICATION for change of use of an agricultural land in St Mary Bourne to residential has been rejected by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

The proposal to convert the land on Stoke Road into an off street parking site was turned down at a development control meeting on Wednesday, July 7. 

The committee decided to vote in favour of recommendations put forward by the authority’s planning officers.

Cllr Paul Harvey said: "I am concerned about the change of use to residential and its implications. Reading the recommendations from the officers and the debates we have had so far on it, I see no reason not to support the officers."

The proposal was to convert the agricultural land on Stoke Road into a residential area, to provide off-street parking and additional external amenity space to four existing properties at land off Gangbridge Lane.

In their recommendation against the application, case officer Meredith Baker said it would contribute to a “loss of views” for residents, writing: “The proposed development would, as a result of the unacceptable domesticated encroachment and loss of views into the open countryside and potential for residential paraphernalia, erode the rural character and setting of the St Mary Bourne Conservation Area, thereby resulting in harm to the significance of this heritage asset and to the ability to appreciate such significance. 

“Such development would fail to preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area.

“The threat of flooding is minor and it is outweighed by the traffic issue. The roads around the site are already dangerous and with the approval of the application to convert the Methodist Chapel there will be extra on road parking and therefore increased danger.”

The application had the support of St Mary Bourne Parish Council.

Chair David Peart told the meeting: “There was general consensus amongst the council that this application should be approved and we can see no logical reason for refusal."

“When the parish council first considered the application in August 2020, our response was ‘No Objection’ as the change of use of this relatively small area of agricultural land was to provide off-street parking and additional amenity space to four properties. The feeling now is that there is an even stronger case for this being granted as the old Methodist Chapel, which is also on this site, is now being renovated for residential use. 

“The chapel, which is situated near the primary school and on a particularly bad bend in the road, has no off-road parking. The potential dangers that this might cause are obvious and in the opinion of the pc, will be an accident waiting to happen. 

“There are also strong feelings regarding this from residents living nearby. Some of the people who have lodged objections to the application have referred to the field as being part of a flood plain. Whilst this may be true the part of the field that the application applies to, is on a higher level and has never been known to flood.”

However, Cllr Stuart Frost pointed out that the application is against the St Mary Bourne Parish Council’s neighbourhood plan for 2016 to 2029.

Mr Peart said the parish council was trying to be flexible for this application as it cannot be strict for all cases.