Plan to build homes on Portchester field is submitted to the council again

Wicor Primary School's headteacher Mark Wildman during last year's protests against building on the field off Cranleigh Road, Portchester. He is with pupils., from left, Izzy Hookings, Amelia Jenkins, Lily Salter, Maddison Jayes and Dylan Ayling
Picture: Paul Jacobs (150521-1) — Wicor Primary School's headteacher Mark Wildman during last year's protests against building on the field off Cranleigh Road, Portchester. He is with pupils., from left, Izzy Hookings, Amelia Jenkins, Lily Salter, Maddison Jayes and Dylan Ayling Picture: Paul Jacobs (150521-1)

Residents say they will continue to fight the developer, Persimmon Homes South Coast, which wants to put 120 homes on the land off Cranleigh Road, in Portchester.

Mark Wildman, headteacher of Wicor Primary School, which is to the west of the field, said he intends to fight the application as he would like to see the land have a community use.

He said: ‘Fundamentally it is a wonderful wildlife habitat, which gets richer and richer. Any development would be bad thing.’

The field has been a target for developers for many years and there have been several plans to build on it.

Fareham Borough Council said yesterday that it had received amendments to the original Persimmon Homes application, which was submitted last March, dropping the number of homes from 135 to 120.

The original application was put on hold after a large amount of community opposition and following the council’s request for the environmental effects to be assessed.

An environmental statement has now been submitted with outline planning application.

Councillor Nick Walker, chairman of the planning committee, said: ‘From the comments received previously, this council is aware of the strong feelings against building houses on this area of countryside which is not allocated for new housing.

‘Before the council makes any decisions on the planning application, we will have to consider a number of planning issues including the newly-submitted environmental statement.

‘I would advise anyone interested in the application to look at the information on the council’s website and comment on the plans. Any comments submitted about the original application will still be considered.’

Matt Paine, managing director of Persimmon Homes South Coast, said: ‘We have submitted a revised planning application to deliver 120 new homes at Cranleigh Road, along with an Environmental Statement which we believe addresses concerns previously raised by local residents.

‘The development would provide much needed housing for local people, including 48 affordable homes, along with pedestrian links, public open spaces and a children’s play area.’

To view the application go to fareham.gov.uk/planning and use reference number P/15/0260/OA before January 29.