Controversial plans to build at least 95 homes in Sherfield-on-Loddon have been refused by Basingstoke’s council.
The authority ruled that the plans to provide the additional housing on land to the north of Goddards Lane were not “sustainable” in a decision notice sent last week.
Residents from the village had long shown their displeasure towards the plans, with more than 200 attending a parish council meeting at the start of the year to voice their disapproval.
The application, which was submitted jointly by Sentinel Housing and Gladman Developments, also received 125 different letters of objection from local residents while it was being considered.
Concerns had been raised about the village’s suitability for the extra housing, as well as the site’s position in the gap separating Sherfield from Chineham and Bramley – points addressed in the council’s verdict.
The notice of refusal read: “The proposal is not considered to represent sustainable development and is contrary to the Basingstoke and Deane borough local plan.
“The proposed development would introduce inappropriate residential development within the countryside, which would fail to respect and integrate with the character, visual amenity and scenic quality of the local landscape.”
One person that has played a key role in opposing the plans has been Sherfield Green resident Venetia Rowland, who ran for and won the vacant Bramley and Sherfield seat on the borough council in May as part of the campaign.
And while expressing her delight at the outcome, Cllr Rowland felt that the approval of the council’s new housing plan to build 850 homes annually earlier this year played a major part in the application being refused.
She said: “I felt like I was contributing to the community when petitioning for this, which definitely made me want to be a borough councillor.
“This decision means not putting people in an area that can’t support the lifestyle, so I’m very pleased.
“The local plan coming in at just the right time has really helped us here, while the residents’ voice also played a big part.
“But we have to view this as a battle won, not a war, because they can still appeal.”
The developers have six months to launch an appeal, with Sentinel revealing that they and Gladman were “now jointly considering our options for the future of the site”.
Development director Mike Shepherd said: “We’re working with Gladman Developments to deliver a mix of affordable and private homes in Sherfield-on-Loddon.
“It’s always disappointing when planning is refused, especially when we’re in the midst of a housing crisis.
“Our number-one priority is to build more new homes and it’s this type of partnership that will help us to do that.”
