Controversial plan for 90 houses in Tadley withdrawn

The plan was to build 90 affordable houses at the end of a 12-house cul-de-sac in the northeast corner of Bishopswood golf course, with the entrance off Deanswood Road.

The application had received severe opposition right from the time it was submitted, with 275 residents writing public comments objecting to the plan.

If approved the cul-de-sac would have been extended south, and all the houses would have been designated as “affordable”.

The main reason for objection from residents was a “collapsing healthcare system” in Tadley.

One resident wrote: “I am objecting [to the plan] on the grounds of insufficient infrastructure to support both the new residents and existing; specifically access to medical care.

“Tadley Medical partnership are already so overstretched. My access to medical care is so restricted that at times when I need to speak to a GP on a matter of mental health, it is questionable whether the treatment the GP is able to give is worth the additional stress associated with actually getting through to a GP. It really is that bad.

“The healthcare system in Tadley is collapsing as we speak, another (average three people per household) ~270 residents is an unacceptable additional load for the town's medical facilities.”

At a Tadley Town Council Planning meeting in July, residents had turned out in force to voice their protests to local town councillors.

In the meeting, residents said their quiet residential close would be totally transformed by the development, and there are also concerns about the environmental impact, with flooding, loss of wildlife habitat, loss of protected trees and noise and increase in traffic the top concerns.

With an overwhelming campaign against the project, the applicants Mr and Mrs Penson have now decided to withdraw their outline application.

The Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has confirmed that the outline application is withdrawn.