New Forest District Council set to approve changes to Cala Homes’ Knightwood Chase development in Fordingbridge after Roman and Iron Age village discovery
A developer which came across a 2,000-year-old Roman village during construction in the Forest, causing its costs to rocket, is set to be allowed to change its plans to cope with the added expense.
As reported in the A&T, the cost of the archaeological survey for Cala Homes’ 198-home Knightwood Chase development in Fordingbridge had soared from a budgeted £53,000 to more than £1m following archaeological digging.
Evidence of the previously village, which also contains remains from the late Iron Age, included more than 20 buildings and features such as bread ovens, storage and rubbish pits.
As a result of the rising costs, Cala applied to New Forest District Council to change its application and build some of the 198 homes larger for a higher return to recover its outlay.
The application, set to be discussed at a meeting on Wednesday, includes an increase of eight four-bedroom homes and a reduction of seven two-bed properties and one three-bed.
A report, which recommends the changes be approved, states: “The applicants have considered various options to try and recoup these costs, but decided at an early stage not to impact the 42 units of affordable housing which was negotiated and considered in detail as part of the viability exercise.
“The applicants also ruled out increasing the number of dwellings overall. After detailed consideration the applicants have decided to propose selective plot changes.
“In addition, they have increased the number of garages which they state gives a better sales value for the plot.”
If approved, the development would consist of 16 one-bed flats, 42 two-bed flats and houses – down from 49 – and 79 three-bed houses – down from 80. There would be 61 four-bed homes, up from 53.
Fordingbridge Town Council objected to the changes on the grounds it would increased the density of the site, bringing additional traffic and parking issues.
The council also received 13 letters of objection from locals, who raised concerns over the impact of overlooking and loss of light for residents in nearby Ashford Close, an increase in traffic and potential parking in adjoining streets.
The extra costs should be absorbed by developer, some felt, rather than making the impact of the development “worse”.
The report adds the development will “contribute significantly” to housing contribution for the area and the changes “do not adversely affect the housing mix or the scale and appearance of the development”.