New Forest District Council unanimously agrees changes to Cala Homes’ Knightwood Chase development in Fordingbridge after Roman and Iron Age village discovery
Changes to a New Forest development have been agreed by the district council after costs soared following the discovery of a 2,000-year-old Roman village.
As reported in the A&T, the cost of the archaeological survey for Cala Homes’ 198-home Knightwood Chase development in Fordingbridge rocketed from a budgeted £53,000 to more than £1m following archaeological digging.
Evidence of the previous 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, unanimously approved at the NFDC meeting, is for 61 four-bed homes - up from 53 - along with 16 one-bed flats; 42 two-bed flats and houses, down from 49; and 79 three-bed houses, down from 80.
There is no change to the agreed 42 affordable homes.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Philip Dowd said: “By and large, there is no reason to object. It is as good a project as last time, so I am happy to support this.”
Cllr John Sleep praised Cala for maintaining much of what the council had already approved, adding: “I think it is a very good example of co-operation between the council and developer.”
Fordingbridge Town Council had objected to the changes on the grounds it would increase the density of the site, bringing additional traffic and parking issues.
The council had 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 the developer, some had felt, rather than making the impact of the development “worse”.
