A RESERVED matters application to begin the first phase of a major development in Bramley has been reluctantly approved by the borough council.

The councillors said the borough would fall out on its four-year housing land supply if this application was not approved.

As previously reported, Croudace Homes has already been granted outline planning permission to build 350 houses and reserve land for a primary school and community facilities on land at Upper Cufaude Farm in Cufaude Lane, Bramley.

This permission was granted in December 2021.

The developer has now applied to begin the first phase of the development comprising 48 houses and an internal spine road connecting the two approved access points.

READ MORE: Plans afoot to build 350 new homes in Bramley

The proposal was taken to a development control committee meeting of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council following several objections from Bramley residents and the parish council.

The meeting, held on Wednesday, February 7, heard from Natural Basingstoke chairperson Gill Smallman and Croudace Homes’ design manager and architect Scott Cromack.

Ms Smallman told the committee that her group is concerned about lack of safety for protected species in the area.

She said: “We object to this proposal on the grounds that it does not conserve the biodiversity value and nature conservation interests of the site in compliance with policies.

“The land of the proposed development is home to protected species and in particular it's home to a nationally significant meta population of common toads.”

Mr Cromack told the committee about the plans to maintain the dormouse bridge proposed in the application.

He also said a multi-use games area and a leap are proposed under Section 106 contribution, but this is not planned in the first phase.

A council officer said the developer’s obligation is only to provide the community facility before the delivery of 300th house.

While debating, Cllr Nick Robinson said he was torn on this application.

This is because the development is included in the council’s 2011-29 local plan and rejecting it would affect the housing supply.

He said: “The principle of building this has already been decided. So there is going to be landscape harm and there is no doubt about that. There are biodiversity issues, some of which have been addressed and some of which haven't.

SEE ALSO: Sherfield residents and councillors question local plan

“There are issues with the lack of character, the height of the buildings. So there's an awful lot of reasons to come back and say 'no, go away and rethink this'. Any of these developments do a lot of harm and we can't stop that.

“But my concern with this one is if we stop it in its tracks and a result of that is we lose our four-year housing land supply. The harm that will do to Bramley and every village around the area is absolutely phenomenal. So I'm really torn on this one as which to go because I don't like but I don't like the alternative either.”

The committee subsequently approved the plans with seven councillors voting in favour of it, three against, and one abstaining.