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Decision on Crest Nicholson South application for 443 homes on land at Moortown Lane, Ringwood, is postponed by NFDC

Decision on Crest Nicholson South application for 443 homes on land at Moortown Lane, Ringwood, is postponed by NFDC

A decision on whether to approve the development of almost 450 homes near Ringwood has been postponed by New Forest District Council.

As reported in the A&T, Crest Nicholson South has submitted a hybrid application for land on Moortown Lane, seeking full planning permission for 150 homes and provisional planning permission for up to 293 homes.

The area, approximately 29 hectares in size, is earmarked for development in the NFDC local plan.

The site on Moortown Lane could be developed for housing (Photo: Google)

The application was scheduled to be discussed at a planning commission meeting last Wednesday, where officials recommended approval, despite objections from the city council and more than 100 residents.

However, members were informed of “two substantial events” that caused it to be removed from the agenda.

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Mark Wyatt, NFDC service manager, told the meeting this was due to the election of a new government, which had set “a clear intended direction” for national planning policy in relation to housing delivery, and the recent adoption of the Ringwood Neighbourhood Plan, which sets out guidelines for the area.

He said the application will be considered at a future planning meeting.

The developer has split the plan into phases, with the first phase seeing the delivery of 150 homes, a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments and three- and four-bedroom houses.

Of these properties, 75 are intended for affordable housing in the form of social housing, affordable rent and shared ownership.

Access to the site is via Moortown Lane, with a new pedestrian and cycle crossing at the southern end.

Public spaces will also be created, including two play areas for children.

The second phase – the outline application – would yield 58 affordable homes.