Criticism over 250 objections not being taken seriously as new homes approved in flood-prone Wallington

Fareham Borough Council has approved plans for 17 homes on land at Military Road, Wallington, despite residents’ concerns about flooding risks.

The application for outline planning permission submitted by Foreman Homes was deferred in September so drainage and surface water issues could be reviewed again by the relevant authorities. In particular, no objections were raised by Southern Water, Portsmouth Water, or Hampshire County Council.

Ward councillor Alison West (Lib Dem) said the site has long been identified by residents as prone to flooding and drainage problems.

She said: “Residents have lived with overflowing drains and flooded homes for years. The official reports may say there’s no problem, but that simply doesn’t reflect the lived experience of our community.”

At a planning committee meeting on November 12, councillors gave the green light for 11 self-build/custom plots and six affordable homes on land at Military Road, Wallington.

Planning committee chairman Cllr David Foot (Con, Sarisbury and Whiteley) said the plans include a strategy to manage surface water run-off, involving storage tanks beneath the site, which currently lacks dedicated drainage.

Cllr Foot said: “Surface water flow will be controlled to the sewer, and managing drainage this way is likely to reduce flooding locally without increasing risk elsewhere.”

He said that government policy places high importance on councils permitting housing sites, including self-build, as with this application reference P/19/0130/OA.

Cllr Foot added: “The planning committee considered that the development would be acceptable, with a legal agreement which would secure the provision of affordable housing, ecological mitigation, and strict compliance with a range of planning conditions.”

More than 250 written objections were submitted, and Russell Kew, chair of the Wallington Village Community Association, warned that residents’ evidence had been undervalued.

Mr Kew said: “Proper consultation means facts must be clearly communicated, assumptions clarified, and responses tested. Residents are treated as if their concerns are not serious simply because they are not called ‘experts’. That is a mistake.”

Cllr West said she will continue to support residents in seeking answers: “This is not about opposing new homes; it’s about ensuring decisions are based on sound evidence and reflect the real conditions faced by local people. The community deserves nothing less.”

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