AN OUTLINE planning application has been submitted to build 101 entry-level dwellings with parking and landscaping on a ‘controversial’ land in Sherfield-on-Loddon.

The 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.

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.

READ MORE: Latest Basingstoke and Deane council planning applications

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.

Basingstoke Gazette: The proposed plan for 101 dwellings in Sherfield-on-Loddon The proposed plan for 101 dwellings in Sherfield-on-Loddon

The application is for all matters to be reserved, except access to the A33.

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

She wrote: “I will be strongly objecting to this outline planning application on the following basis:

“Access from the A33 is highly dangerous. A left filter going north is completely inadequate on an extremely busy stretch of road near turnings to the Church and Wildmoor Lane where there have already been a number of accidents.

“A development of 100 per cent starter homes/affordable housing is not compliant with Principle 2.5 in the Borough's Housing SPD, which states that all developments should support the creation of integrated and mixed communities.

“This development falls within the strategic gap between Sherfield Park and Sherfield-on-Loddon. Building on it will create more urban sprawl up the A33, not protecting our distinct village and hamlet communities.

“The ground on the site has a high probability of containing unexploded WWII ordnance and dangerous gases such as mustard gas. It requires a full detailed survey to clear all dangerous substances.

“The whole site is subject to a Tree Preservation Order, however, the outline planning application proposes felling multiple numbers of trees.

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“There was unauthorised felling of trees on this site with outstanding orders from the Forestry Commission. While not a planning issue per se, it is unethical that there should be commercial gain from a site which was subject to unlicensed felling with legal sanctions outstanding.”

To view the outline planning application, click here.

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