Plans by Fawley Waterside for 1,380-home town ‘no longer viable’ says consortium

Controversial plans for a new Waterside town of more than 1,300 homes have been pulled after the consortium behind the scheme ruled it “not viable”.

As reported in the A&T the £1bn Fawley Waterside project, previously headed by Cadland Estate owner Aldred Drummond, was recently put under review amid his resignation as a director.

An outline proposal for the scheme on the former power station site, was given the green light by New Forest District Council in mid-2020. In addition to the homes it was estimated to create around 2,000 jobs.

But progress stalled, with final legal agreements with the council not completed.

Confirming the decision this morning (Thursday), a spokesperson said: “Fawley Waterside can confirm both outline planning applications for redevelopment of the former Fawley Power Station site have today been formally withdrawn.

“As a result, the current proposed masterplan will not be developed, and instead a new future for the site will need to be determined.

“The decision to withdraw the applications has not been taken lightly but multiple assessments of the current scheme have shown that it is not viable.

“Fawley Waterside will continue working closely and collaboratively with both New Forest District Council and the New Forest National Park Authority to consider the most appropriate development strategy for the site.”

The site is allocated for development in the current Local Plan for 1,380 dwellings.

Responding to the news, leader of New Forest District Council, Cllr Jill Cleary said: “The council had been waiting for the signature of the applicant on the legal agreements for over a year, while the viability of the proposed vision for the site evidently became more at risk.

“As leader of the council, I am pleased that there is now clarity as to the state of play.”

She added: “We look forward to working with Fawley Waterside, and their newly appointed team, to consider viable alternative development options for the site, that help us deliver on our corporate plan aspirations.

“Recognising the Freeport designation of the site, and the recently committed review of the New Forest District Council Local Plan, it is timely for us all to be able to consider how best this site can help to deliver benefits to the New Forest community, economy and environment”.

New Forest National Park Authority chairman David Bence said it had “noted” the reasons for withdrawing and “look forward to working with the new Fawley Waterside team”.

He added: “The former power station site is, uniquely, entirely enclosed by the national park and any successor scheme will need to meet an exceptionally high standard of design and layout that has regard to the landscape and setting of the national park.

“Any redevelopment of the site must be comprehensive and integrate with its surroundings, delivering meaningful benefits for nature and wildlife and taking opportunities to improve public access”.

Fawley Waterside says it will continue to manage several short-term commercial tenancies and remains “committed” to all its pre-existing strategic partnerships.

As well as residential properties, the project also included areas of new commercial, civic and employment space, an underground car park, public open space, new grazing land and a primary school, if there was demand.