Controversial New Milton 164 homes plan off Brockhills Lane finally given planning permission
CONTROVERSIAL plans for 164 new homes in New Milton have finally been given the green light after nearly a year of negotiations.
Among the delays holding up final approval for the Brockhills Lane development was a legal agreement over 50% affordable housing.
The application by Pennyfarthing Homes, dating from 2021, was for phased residential development of land east of Brockhills Lane with new vehicle access and associated work including landscaping.
Half the accommodation is allocated as affordable, with 21 first homes, 13 social rent, 25 affordable rent and 23 shared ownership.
As reported in the A&T, the project sparked nearly 490 objections, including from the Residents Against Development of Brockhills Lane (RABL) group.
After planning permission was given, a New Forest District Council spokesperson said: "The planning application was approved by NFDC’s planning committee in 2023.
"The approval was subject to the completion of an agreement that would secure 50% affordable housing (82 homes) and other contributions towards local infrastructure. The legal agreement has been completed and the planning permission has now been issued."
The committee decision had originally been deferred in December 2022, and was approved at an occasionally stormy meeting in February last year after planning officers recommended it be allowed amid road safety fears.
Residents had argued Brockhills Lane was much too narrow for so many homes and risked a fatal accident if it went ahead, but members ultimately voted to approve the application by seven votes to five, with three abstentions.
They were partly convinced by a Hampshire County Council highways report which raised no objections and said there would be “no unacceptable impact on highway safety”.
Among a series of highway measures, Pennyfarthing Homes agreed no homes would be occupied until a crossing point and footpath link is provided along Brockhills Lane between the proposed footpath in the south-west corner of the site and the existing footpath.
