Plan for 225 homes in Portchester rejected after more than 300 residents complain
PLANS for 225 homes and a bird habitat in Portchester have been rejected after more than 300 complaints from residents.
Foreman Homes had plans to build the homes, as well as a bird conservation area for geese, on land south of Romsey Avenue.
But Fareham Borough Council’s planning committee has rejected the proposal, citing concerns about the loss of protected wildlife habitats.
It comes after a two-year campaign of residents opposing the plans, with Natural England and more than 300 people writing to the council to call for the development to be scrapped.
Natural England objected to the plans as it would result in a loss of habitat even with a proposed four-hectare bird conservation area.
One resident making a deputation at the meeting last Wednesday said: ‘(This) is one of the most protected sites in the world.
‘We are quite privileged, but it comes with responsibilities to look after its health for future generations.
‘You have read that Natural England rejected the application because it will result in the loss of supporting habitats.’
The land south of Romsey Avenue is a supporting habitat for bird and wildfowl across the Solent, an area that homes 10 per cent of the global population of Brent geese.
Councillors on the planning committee also raised concerns about the lack of affordable housing and funding for road improvements.
Councillor Trevor Cartwright said: ‘I’m somewhat disappointed to say the least – Foreman Homes have had two years to present this application, and looking at it, it looks like the most ill-thought out application I have seen in a long, long time.
‘There are elements in there were information hasn’t been supplied.
‘I really don't think they have thought through this at all.’
Chairman for the planning committee, Councillor Nick Walker, said: ‘This has been a long arduous task to convince our officers that this was never going to be a suitable site.
‘I said so on day one.
‘This is a victory for residents – a CS victory, and I don’t mean core strategy, I mean common sense.’
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