ROMSEY ROAD, WHITEPARISH
About Us
The Applicant is Bargate Homes, a developer established in 2006 to be a truly differentiated homebuilder in its product and guiding principles. Bargate’s vision is to reject the malaise of mediocrity in new homes design and build standards and appalling levels of customer service. To recognise corporate responsibility; to have a purpose beyond profit. To demonstrate a duty of care in development, to enhance the beautiful local area we all choose to call home and give back to the communities in which we develop. To be the brand that cares in a marketplace that seemingly does not.
Vivid are a leading provider of affordable homes and extensive support services in the south of England, with around 72,000 customers, 33,000 homes and 900 employees. Our vision is “more homes, bright futures” and our mission is to give customers a safe and secure home and provide the foundations for their wellbeing by: Delivering high-quality services so people can live independently in a safe and secure home and be proud of where they live
Background
An Outline Planning Application (ref: PL/2022/09532) with all matters reserved (except access) was made in 2022 for ‘a residential development of up to 25 dwellings with access to Romsey Road, parking, open space, landscaping and drainage’. This application was approved by Wiltshire Council in June 2024 and sets out the suitability of the site for residential development. The permission establishes the parameters which must be followed, including the maximum number of houses (25), distribution of land uses, and the access design. The site location is shown below.
The development is being brought forward to respond to local needs whilst providing high quality, sustainable development which responds to the site and the local context.
The land is situated at the eastern end of Whiteparish, off Romsey Road and extends to 1.71ha. The location of the application site is outlined below in red.
Proposal
Bargate Homes have acquired the site and are now proceeding with a Reserved Matters application which will be made to Wiltshire Council for the following:
- The erection of 25 homes proposed as a mix of 1 to 5 bedroom dwellings, with the inclusion of 40% affordable housing, as set out in the schedule of accommodation below.
- Public open space – The development provides a positive contribution to the green infrastructure and public open space of Whiteparish and encompasses approximately 0.7ha of formal and informal multi-functional open space, including a local area of play area, as well as biodiversity improvements and SuDS. The development also makes provision for new pedestrian connections the existing Rights of Way Network.
The development proposes to accommodate for all housing needs which includes provision for 15no. (60%) Market and a total of 10no. (40%) Affordable Housing Units, including:
| Market Housing | |||
| Size | Tenure | No. of Units (+%) | |
| 2-Bed House | 2-Storey | Private Ownership | 2 Units (13%) |
| 3-Bed House | 2-Storey | Private Ownership | 3 Units (20%) |
| 3-Bed House | 1.5-Storey | Private Ownership | 2 Units (13%) |
| 4-Bed House | 2-Storey | Private Ownership | 7 Units (47%) |
| 5-Bed House | 2-Storey | Private Ownership | 1 Unit (7%) |
| TOTAL | 15 Units (60%) | ||
| Affordable Housing | |||
| Size | Tenure | No. of Units (+%) | |
| 1-Bed Maisonette | 1-Storey | Rental | 2 Units (20%) |
| 2-Bed House | 2-Storey | Rental | 3 Units (30%) |
| 3-Bed House | 2-Storey | Rental | 1 Unit (10%) |
| 2-Bed House | 2-Storey | Shared Ownership | 1 Unit (10%) |
| 2-Bed House | 2-Storey | First Homes | 2 Units (20%) |
| 3-Bed House | 2-Storey | First Homes | 1 Unit (10%) |
| TOTAL | 10 Units (40%) | ||
The detailed proposal has been informed by a wide project team and will be supported by a number of reports as summarised below:
Landscape
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The landscape character of the site and its vicinity typifies the rural context of many villages. The landscape and visual effects have been evaluated as part of the Outline Application. This concluded that the landscape effects would be within a ‘localised’ area and would have a moderate effect. The site also falls within the New Forest National Park designated landscape and a Special Landscape Area (SLA) but despite this, there are detracting features which indicate that the value of the landscape of the study area is medium, which means that it is not a valued landscape (NPPF amended Dec 2024). Mitigation and enhancement recommendations were outlined in the report and have been considered to mitigate any potential adverse effects.
LVIA Ltd have been instructed to prepare the detailed hard and soft landscape design for the site. Their proposals ensure the scheme is integrated into the wider landscape through a comprehensive scheme of strategic planting to avoid adverse impact to the landscape and surroundings. Specific landscape mitigation seeks to implement extensive planting in the south-western area to create a well-defined edge between the site and the countryside whilst additional structural planting is proposed throughout the site to break up the built form. Implementation of roadside vegetation, herb rich grassland, specimen trees, and scrub planting have also been considered.
Ecology
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A suite of ecological and bat surveys were undertaken for the Outline permission to enable an informed understanding of the biodiversity of the site, including reptiles, bats, great crested newts, badgers, birds and invertebrates. The site comprises arable land with arable field margins and elements of grassland. Hedgerows are of varying quality along the site boundaries, with denser hedgerow along the road frontage.
ECOSA Ltd have been instructed to detail the biodiversity protection and enhancement scheme for the development. Their proposals have been designed to retain habitats of greatest ecological value wherever possible and providing opportunities for species post-development by retaining the majority of hedgerows and provision of green corridors. A water source is also provided which will exploit natural drainage conditions while enhancing the site for invertebrates and amphibians, including great crested newts as well as providing water for reptiles and mammals. This will also enhance foraging opportunities for birds and bats. This contributes towards delivering at least 10% biodiversity net gain as well as significant hedgerow unit gains as confirmed within the Outline Permission.
To provide additional biodiversity enhancements, the following are also included:
- Bat and bird boxes included within the development to target species such as house sparrow (Passer domesticus) and swift (Apus apus).
- Hedgehog friendly fencing to ensure hedgehogs can still move through the development. This will include maintaining a gap at the bottom of fences..
- The inclusion of wildflower areas will also provide additional foraging opportunities for hedgehogs.
Trees
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A Tree Survey has been undertaken by Barrell Tree Consultancy. This has influenced the layout of the residential development so that the important trees and hedgerows (primarily to the site boundaries) can be retained. Some removal of the vegetation to the north eastern boundary is required to facilitate the access scheme as permitted by the Outline Planning Permission. Replacement planting can be achieved.
Drainage
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A Flood Risk Assessment and Surface Water Drainage Strategy have been included as part of the application for the proposed development. It has been concluded that the overall flood risk within the development area is considered low from all sources.
MJA have been instructed to lead on the engineering and drainage design. The drainage scheme makes provision for an attenuation pond located at the lowest point of the site. This is an effective form of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) that helps provide onsite storage for surface water during periods of heavy rainfall, ensuring flood water does not flow off site affecting surrounding land and any existing & proposed dwellings. This also has the potential to provide benefits for water quality, ecology, and amenity for the development and the local area.
Noise
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A Preliminary Noise Assessment by 24 Acoustics was undertaken in line with Condition 20 of the approved Outline permission. This considered any impacts on the proposed development with regards to noise levels. It was concluded that the site is subject to noise from road traffic and so mitigation recommendations were provided within the report to ensure suitable noise criteria are achieved. Therefore, mitigation measures integrated into the development to reduce noise impact within the proposal have seen the orientation of plots 1-4 to face Romsey Road, so the associated gardens are screened from the road traffic and, for an acceptable internal environment, thermal double glazing and sound attenuated trickle vents are proposed
Climate Change
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Our approach towards transitioning towards carbon neutrality is:
- The biodiversity of the Site will be protected, diversified and improved through new planting and habitat creation. Overall the proposals are expected to achieve a net gain in biodiversity
- Integrate Sustainable Urban Drainage systems
- Design homes using a ‘fabric first’ approach where the materials and construction are designed to reduce energy demand as far as possible first
- Achieving energy conservation standards that exceed Building Regulations.
- Homes designed to reduce water demand though efficient appliances and fitting
- Integration of low carbon energy sources such as the potential incorporation of photovoltaic arrays and heat pumps
- Electric Vehicle charging points provided for all new homes
- Providing new footway connections on Romsey Road and to the public right of way to the north west, to encourage residents to utilise easy access to alternative modes of transport (e.g. walking, cycling and public transport) from the Site to reduce reliance on the private car.
Design
Cooper Baillie have been instructed to prepare the detailed design scheme for the reserved matters. The Proposed Site Plan below outlines how development is proposed on the site, it provides details on the following:
- Points of access into the site and movement of vehicles, cycles, and pedestrians within the site and to spaces outside of development.
- The detailed layout of the proposed development.
- Proposed housing mix, type, and size to meet local needs.
- The appearance, scale, and positioning of the proposed dwellinghouses in relation to open space.
- Landscaping including boundary treatments, garden layouts, amount of open space, tree planting, and biodiversity net gains.
The site presents itself as a logical extension to Whiteparish. The masterplan responds directly to the sites character and context and naturally integrates into the village whilst providing high-quality and beautifully designed homes that meet the housing needs of the community.
Comments
Bargate Homes would like to know your view on their more detailed proposal. If you would like to share your thoughts about the development, you can type in comments within the comments box below and click ‘submit’.
In order to help inform the eventual planning application, responses are sought by Friday 14th March 2025.
Bargate Homes will consider all correspondence received and our response to the issues raised will be set out in the Planning Submission. As part of a planning application, submitted to the Local Planning Authority a complete copy of all comments received may be published however all personal details (including any details such as your name, address and email where you have provided them) will be confidential. The Council may publish any Planning submission documents online, subject to their own Data Protection policies. Should the application be the subject of an appeal, the same information will be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate. If further consultation is carried out as part of the planning process, we may use your details to make you aware of this and to ask for your views, but will not use this information for any other purpose.
