New Forest District Council grants permission for Pennyfarthing Homes to build temporary road and bridge as part of Fordingbridge housing development

PERMISSION to build a temporary access road and bridge at a housing development in Fordingbridge has been approved.

Pennyfarthing Homes Ltd applied to New Forest District Council for the works on land west of Whitsbury Road, known as Strategic Site 17 in the Local Plan.

The site is currently in use as part of the habitat mitigation recreation area connected to the Augustus Park residential development opposite.

As reported in the A&T, the developer has submitted plans for 74 new homes as part of a wider plan to create a neighbourhood of 342 homes on the northern edge of the town.

It was previously granted outline permission for the site.

A report to members, who discussed the application at a recent meeting of the planning committee, explained: “The earlier permission included in detail a new roundabout on Whitsbury Road, a new bridge over Sweatfords Water and a new estate road connecting Whitsbury Road with the residential zone part of the site to the south-west.

“Whilst planning permission has been granted for this development, there are a number of conditions that require further details to be submitted and approved before work can commence. In addition, the new roundabout and road, including the river bridge, will require an agreement with Hampshire County Council prior to any works taking place on the public highway.”

It adds: “The current application seeks planning permission for a temporary period for the construction of a temporary road access and river bridge, which will essentially run parallel to the approved road line and bridge.

“[It] is intended to ease the logistical issues identified by the applicant surrounding the building of the new access roundabout on Whitsbury Road, the bridge and new estate road, as well as potentially enabling earlier access to the residential zone where the proposed houses are to be constructed.”

The report added that while the applicant planned to commence construction of the temporary access road and bridge works in May 2025, it would not proceed any further with construction of any of the roads to the residential zone until such time as all the necessary conditions on the outline application have been approved/discharged.

The council received two letters from locals regarding the application, urging for the existing Whitsbury Road to be kept free of mud and other debris from construction traffic, and for mitigation on works to compensate for the loss of access to alternative green space to be put in place prior to any other works taking place.

Members voted in favour of the application.