Bloor Homes and Barker Mill Estates submit EIA application to NFDC

COUNCILLORS are being asked to decide if environmental screening would be needed around a development of 375 homes in Calmore.

Bloor Homes and Barker Mill Estates want to know if they need to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the proposed development site north of Salisbury Road.

The applicant said the plans would be a “second phase extension” of a separate, adjacent scheme, also off Salisbury Road, for up to 280 homes which was given the go-ahead by district councillors last September.

In a cover letter, the applicants said: “The site is comprised of agricultural fields with boundary hedgerows and trees. A high voltage overhead line and two pylons are located towards the north east of the site.

“The proposed development comprises approximately 375 residential dwellings with associated landscaping, public open space, alternative natural recreational greenspace (ANRG) and ancillary infrastructure.

“Existing trees and hedgerows within the site will be retained where possible, and additional new tree and hedgerow planting will be provided as part of the development, with further planting to infill and reinforce the boundary edges where possible.”

The applicants said the proposed development area is 250m from the national park, separated from it by the A326 Totton bypass and the A36 junction, and includes approximately eight hectares of ANRG, including trees and hedges, and around seven hectares of public open space.

They said “sustainable” drainage systems would be incorporated into the scheme and would include “naturalistic attenuation basins” to manage surface water drainage.

The letter added: “Although currently undeveloped, the site is located on the edge of an existing urban development, and will be adjacent to the consented urban extension at Land North of Salisbury Road.

“The proposed development is significantly less than 1,000 dwellings in size, and is not located within an environmentally sensitive area in terms of ecology, landscape, or heritage.

“Potential effects on existing and future residents in terms of noise, air quality, traffic, and visual impact are not likely to be significant… we do not consider that the proposed development will result in significant environmental effects and, therefore, it does not constitute EIA development.”

NFDC is due to give a decision on the application by Monday 17th February.