Harnden Homes submits revised four-home bid for Pennington’s former WI hall

SCALED-back plans to build four homes on the site of Pennington's 100-year-old WI hall have been submitted to New Forest District Council.

A previous bid by developer Harnden Homes to develop the site on Lodge Road with five houses was refused by planners back in April. They ruled the scheme would “constitute a visually cluttered and unduly cramped form of development”.

The latest application, put together following pre-application advice from NFDC officers, is for two pairs of semi-detached dwellings.

Harnden’s planning statement reads: “In common with the character of the locality a traditional appearance is proposed. The architectural treatment would be similar to the previous scheme and no issue was found with this design approach.

“There are no material considerations which would count against the proposal.

“The clear benefit is that the proposal would provide additional family-sized dwellings on brownfield land in an accessible location within the urban area.”

There are as yet no public comments on the plans, although Lymington mayor Cllr Jack Davies has declared his opposition.

“I don't think this application is suitable,” he said. “There isn't room for four houses on the WI Hall site, and the precedent such an application sets is bad for Pennington.

"If this is approved, the key is to make sure these houses are not immediately turned into Airbnb.

"That's what happened with the IRC building in the square and it's something we need to avoid. Pennington already has lots of Airbnb and it will kill our village if not restricted."

As reported in the A&T, Harnden had initially said it intended to build a care home on the site.

The WI hall, which was bought by the developer in 2021 after going on the market with a guide price of £750,000, was set to be demolished in April.

However, the community building still stands, and Harnden has until November 2027 to level the site.