New Forest District Council approves application by Crest Nicholson for 443-home development at Moortown Lane in Ringwood

“NOT a good day” – this was a Ringwood councillor’s reaction to New Forest District Council granting permission for a controversial 443-home development in the town.

As reported in the A&T, the hybrid application for the site off Moortown Lane was previously deferred by the planning committee after ruling further discussion was needed between the town council and developer Crest Nicholson.

Ringwood Town Council had said its Neighbourhood Plan had been ignored by Crest Nicholson, which was asking for full permission for 150 homes and outline permission for up to 293.

The land, about 29 hectares, is earmarked for development in NFDC’s Local Plan.

Cllr Steve Rippon-Swaine, the Conservative member for the town, shared his disappointment at Wednesday’s meeting of the planning committee after the scheme was recommended for approval by Cllr Malcolm Wade.

Cllr Rippon-Swaine said: “This is a bit of a shame, quite frankly. This is probably the first major test of Ringwood’s Neighbourhood Plan, which was approved by an extraordinarily large majority of the community, and we are ignoring it. Not a good day.”

After meeting with the town council, the developer revised its plans slightly, agreeing to boost the number of two-bed homes to address concerns over a lack of smaller dwellings.

Overall the site would provide 40 one-bed homes, 181 two-bed, 126 three-bed and 96 properties of four-plus bedrooms. The total number of affordable homes would remain at 133, as before.

The town council was also unhappy about access to the site, which will initially be from Moortown Lane. The delivery of a series of connecting roads to Crow Lane and Wellworthy Way would be created as development progresses and properties are sold.

It was also unhappy with a lack of first homes, insufficient alternative natural recreational greenspace, and the size of properties, some of which would be two-and-a-half and three storeys high.

Cllr Malcolm Wade told the meeting that while he sympathised with those against the “deeply unpopular” plans, the district council had simply not built enough homes in recent years.

“We know the government is eager for us to build more, and we also know the ability for a developer – because of that fact – to put in an appeal to something we object to and our chances of winning it are very unsuccessful,” he said.

“This is just the reality of the situation. Are there sufficient planning reasons for us to object? The answer is, there aren’t.”

Cllr Kate Crisell agreed, but added Ringwood Town Council had “done the best they can” for arguing against the development.

Cllr Barry Rickman said the decision to defer the application in September had been “a very good one” as it allowed “reasonable and responsible” discussions to take place.

As the site cannot provide enough alternative natural recreational greenspace (ANRG) the developer has also applied for a change of use on agricultural land adjacent to Crow Lane. Members also granted permission for the site to become public open space.