Silchester homes appeal dismissed by inspector
Borough council’s decision to reject Little London Road plan upheld
AN appeal to build between five and nine new homes in Silchester has been dismissed.
Mr and Mrs Ken Moss had been seeking to build the homes on land on the east side of Little London Road, opposite Hydes Platt.
An application for permission in principle to build the houses was rejected by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in October last year after planning officers cited concerns that open countryside would be lost, that the development was distanced from facilities and services and that it would be unsustainable.
Mr Moss then appealed against the decision. However the Planning Inspectorate has upheld the council’s decision.
In the decision report, inspectorate Helen O’Connor ruled that the development didn’t meet a local need and that the proposals didn’t “meet any of the other exceptions for housing in the countryside” permitted by the borough council’s Local Plan.
She continued: “This is reinforced by the relatively poor accessibility of the site to local facilities and public transport.
“Silchester has a public house, village hall, primary school and some recreational facilities, but otherwise local facilities are generally limited.
“Accordingly, future residents would generally need to travel further afield
to access work, education (other than primary level), shopping, health services and wider leisure opportunities.”
She added that there was only a limited bus service, while the unlit roads in the area would deter pedestrians and cyclists – meaning that occupants would be likely to rely significantly on cars.
The news will be welcomed by the residents of Hydes Platt, as well as the parish council.
Councillors had previously objected to the scheme on the grounds that it would generate traffic which would compromise highway safety.
Borough councillor Simon Mahaffey (Con, Bramley) also opposed the scheme, saying that the site was “extremely dangerous” due to its proximity to a blind bend.
Silchester has been allocated 15 homes to build by the borough council as part of its Local Plan update.
...the development didn’t meet a local need and that the proposals didn’t ‘meet any of the other exceptions for housing in the countryside’