Nine new 'high-quality houses' could be built in Romsey next year

This comes as a planning application to build a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes in Cupernham Lane was given the green light by planning chiefs.

The proposals, submitted by Stratland Estates Ltd, were approved at TVBC's Southern Area Planning Committee on Tuesday, January 12.

However, chairman of the committee, Cllr Mark Cooper, said a debate was sparked over the proposed designs, with some community leaders believing they were "bland and suburban".

Cllr Mark Cooper

MORE - Plans for nine new homes are delayed 

A spokesperson from Stratland Estates said they expect the houses to be completed in early 2022, claiming each property could be given an electric charging point for cars.

They said: "Stratland Estates is delighted that councillors gave approval for nine high-quality houses north of Woodpeckers on Cupernham Lane.

"Members recognised in the debate the difficulty in conveying crisp modern architecture in two-dimensional planning drawings, and while some members raised concern about this drawn detail, the majority who voted in favour of the proposals acknowledged that the success of the scheme will be in the quality of the craftsmanship and materials used."

They added: "Members also debated opportunities for electric vehicle charging points and, while they heard from officers that this is not currently a requirement, Stratland Estates have nevertheless taken these comments on board and will incorporate the necessary infrastructure into the development to ensure that every house has the ability to install a car charging point."

What the new homes could look like

This comes after some residents slammed the plans, believing it could harm animals using the Fishlake Meadows site.

MORE - Plans for 14 houses in Romsey are approved 

One resident said: “If the development goes ahead there will be a continuous ‘urban’ barrier between the Fishlake Meadows Nature Reserve and the lands east of Cupernham Lane.

“This has implications for the movement and health of the wildlife in this immediate area.”

Roger Bunney, who lives on Grayling Mead, said: “The proposed development offers little environmental enhancement in its overdeveloped layout for the site size.

“The loss of mature trees further degrades the area and the eastern outskirts of the town are resembling planning destruction similar to new development areas of Eastleigh Borough Council.”

He added: “Continuous development has caused both noise and air pollution in residential areas and major congestion within Romsey town centre.

“Many streets are polluted and continuing development will only increase these problems within streets designed and constructed going back into the 19th century.”