New Forest District Council withdraws permission for 19 homes at Gang Warily Farm, Fawley, after Reflect Homes u-turns on affordable properties

PLANS to build 19 new affordable homes near Fawley have been thrown out after the developer said the scheme was no longer viable.

As reported in the A&T, Reflect Homes Ltd was given permission by New Forest District Council in 2022 to demolish the farmhouse at Gang Warily Farm, Newlands Road, and build 10 houses and nine apartments on the 0.50-hectare site.

These would have been a mixture of rent and shared ownership properties.

The approval was subject to legal agreements being signed, securing the scheme as 100% affordable housing and outlining habitat mitigation plans.

A report to the council’s planning committee, which met on Wednesday, explained the application should now be refused.

“Given the time that has elapsed since the original resolution was reached, it is considered little prospect that the applicant will now engage with the council in preparing the [agreement] required to secure the mitigation or subsequently deliver the development.”

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Philip Dowd asked whether the application would be reconsidered if it included some affordable homes.

He said: “Given there is an absolute need for affordable housing, is it simply the fact that it has to be 100%, or is there some movement on that that might encourage the developer to rethink?”

Case officer James Gilfillan explained that one of the “key elements” of the application was its affordable homes, due to its rural exception status. He added that had caused some “challenges” for the developer in terms of viability.

He added: “We have never been invited to consider a mix of affordable and private market housing on the scheme, as it was submitted as 100% affordable and the applicant has never chosen to bring that to us as an option.”

The application received five letters of objection, with concerns raised over lack of parking, increased congestion, noise and disturbance to existing residents, and flooding.

Cllr Allan Glass, of Fawley Parish Council, also raised an objection on the grounds of overdevelopment and highway safety.

Members unanimously agreed to refuse the scheme.