Ringwood Town Council submits call-in request over New Forest District Council’s approval of 443-home scheme off Moortown Lane
AN inquiry could be held on New Forest District Council’s approval of a controversial planning application for more than 400 new homes in Ringwood.
The town council has submitted a request to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to call in the decision for the site off Moortown Lane, which was made last November by NFDC’s planning committee.
This comes after frustration of the Neighbourhood Plan team, said the town council’s deputy clerk Jo Hurd, who told the A&T the decision “felt like a real kick in the teeth for all the volunteers who put so much time and effort into the plan and getting it through a referendum”.
“It comes down to defending the Neighbourhood Plan which was put together to get the right development for Ringwood.”
The council ruled out a judicial review as it was not deemed appropriate as well as “costly”.
As reported in the A&T, developer Crest Nicholson’s hybrid application was previously deferred by NFDC’s planning committee to allow for further discussion with the town council, which said its Neighbourhood Plan had been ignored.
Ringwood council claims the application breaches “at least” 11 Local Development Plan policies including six in the recently made Ringwood Neighbourhood Plan.
The land, about 29 hectares, had been earmarked for development in NFDC’s Local Plan. The application sought permission for 150 homes and outline permission for up to 293. Of the properties, 133 are affordable.
After an initial 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.
However, the town council remained unhappy about access to the site and a series of connecting roads to Crow Lane and Wellworthy Way.
It also took issue with the inclusion of first-floor study rooms in the open-market houses, which have the potential, it says, to be used as bedrooms.
As a result, Ringwood council says the future occupancy of the site is “artificially low” and the application does not include sufficient phosphate mitigation to protect the internationally important site of the Avon Valley.
In its call-in letter the council states: “Our calculation suggests that the phase one application for 150 dwellings requires approximately 10% more phosphate mitigation, and we anticipate that phase two will have a similar issue.”
It adds: “This, we believe, needs to be investigated since the precedent set will impact up to 74 local planning authorities (LPAs) in England that require nutrient neutrality.
“Not making adequate provision for phosphate mitigation is a breach of the international Habitats Regulations. If not investigated, we understand that the government and Natural England would be held responsible for any breach that arises.”
Cllr Steve Rippon-Swaine, the Conservative member for the town, previously shared his disappointment after the scheme was recommended for approval.
Speaking at the planning meeting he said: “This is a bit of a shame. 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.”
Commenting on the call-in, an NFDC spokesperson told the A&T it had been contacted by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
“The Planning Casework Unit has advised us that the Secretary of State is in receipt of a request to call in the application for her determination. The Planning Casework Unit will advise the Secretary of State on this request, and has sought information from us on the timetable for the completion of the legal agreement and further consultation with Natural England as per the resolution from the planning committee.
“We remain in dialogue with the Planning Casework Unit.”
As a result of the scheme being passed, the town council met last week to discuss a review of its Neighbourhood Plan, including modifications to the clarification of ‘small dwellings’.
The modified plan will now be submitted to the district council and New Forest National Park Authority to consider whether the proposed changes can be considered – and potentially approved – as minor modifications.