Approval for 49 homes on derelict Locks Heath land

Plans for 49 houses at a derelict site in Locks Heath have been given the go-ahead by councillors.

Developers Taylor Wimpey have been given permission to build the homes on the 1.35 hectare site at Peters Road, which currently has numerous derelict glasshouses and abandoned outbuildings.

Permission was given last year for Highwood Homes to build on the plot, but the company withdrew their proposal and sold the land to Taylor Wimpey.

Under Taylor Wimpey's application the houses will have a variety of different bedroom numbers and will include 16 designated affordable houses.

The plans were based on the previously approved layout, but as a new application. Taylor Wimpey made some changes, including the number of car port positions and other details.

The company also maintained there would not be an access point between the development and Chichester Close, which was raised at the last council meeting.

In the application, eight representations were made from residents concerned about overlooking and loss of privacy, possible flooding and that the car port for parking appeared to be garages without doors.

Highways officers at the council had a number of concerns, including the ability for a waste collection vehicle to be able to access and turn around on the site.

Fareham Borough Council unanimously approved the plans. As part of the approval, Taylor Wimpey will build a brick wall between the boundary of the site and Chichester Close rather than a wooden fence for a stable borderline with no access between the housing estates.

Taylor Wimpey is also seeking permission to build 206 houses on a 6.33 hectare piece of land next to this site on Peters Road in a joint application with Bovis Homes Ltd. The plans include pedestrian areas, a play park, open space and 363 car parking spaces associated with the dwellings, including 42 disabled spaces, and 331 cycle spaces, along with the creation of a new vehicle access at Lockswood Road.

The whole site has been earmarked for a housing estate for around 15 years but has had a number of applications deemed unsuitable, including an application granted on appeal for 307 houses on the whole site, which did not go ahead.

Reported by The Western Wards Gazette.