Area N Beggarwood – Application 14/02752/FUL

What does the South West Action Group think of this planning application?  “Facilities, infrastructure and employment for EXISTING residents, not just more housing”

Area N has long had permission for development although previously only for employment use.  The new proposal by Bellway Homes for still more housing in place of employment is unfortunate but hard to resist.

The most important point is that this whole edge of town area is suffering the torture of “death by a thousand cuts”.  As SWAG has been pointing out relentlessly for the last five years, building ever more housing estates in this area, miles from the town centre and from most employment is totally unsustainable.

SWAG’s position on Area N is one of reluctant acceptance.  SWAG fully supports more community facilities, however it believes there are two critical aspects that must be safeguarded.
1. The ancient tree line of the Coachroad Belt that lies to the south of the site must be protected.  Although the developer has shown a 20 metre buffer, there must be clear protection from domestic encroachment by future residents that would degrade the woodland.
2. If the proposed Community Hall is not built on this site then the building in which it was to be housed must not be used for still more dwellings.  Some form of small retail or office provision would be preferable.

We encourage residents to write to the Council supporting these concerns under the above reference.  The Planning Officer dealing with the application is Anne Wilkinson – anne.wilkinson@basingstoke.gov.uk   The application is expected to go to Committee in mid November.

APPLICATION FOR
101 DWELLINGS AND COMMUNITY HALL

Below is a picture of what is known as “Area N” as it appears at present.

Below is the illustrative layout of the proposed development

We will leave others to spell out the details of the proposal.  However here are a few of the key points :
58 houses and 43 flats are proposed.  Most of the flats will be in 2½ and 3 storey buildings in the northern and south eastern corners of the site
201 car parking spaces are planned.  This is consistent with Basingstoke’s parking standards.
A “takeaway”, located in the building on the other side of the road from the Co-op store, is proposed

Most importantly, the proposal incorporates the removal of the one-way pinch point on Beggarwood Lane and its replacement with a two-way pinch point.  This will still involve a narrowing of the road to reduce speed but will allow two cars to pass.
Finally, it is proposed that the building opposite the Co-op will incorporate a “Community Hall”.  However Basingstoke Council is carrying out public consultation amongst Beggarwood residents in early November on whether the proposed Community Hall should be located within this site or on the edge of the Woodland Park.

Related Links: www.BATS.net