Welborne development: council approves outline plan for 6,000 homes in Fareham

PLANS for a £1bn development which will provide 6,000 new homes in Fareham have been approved by councillors.
The new garden village will feature a hotel and a local pub.The new garden village will feature a hotel and a local pub.
The new garden village will feature a hotel and a local pub.

The outline plan for Welborne approved by the planning committee of Fareham Borough Council will see the building of the homes alongside three primary schools, a secondary school, two community centres, and a medical centre.

Planning officers said developer Buckland Developments Ltd hoped to be 'on-site' to begin construction before the end of next year, but councillors were warned stalled roadworks could see building 'grind to a halt.'

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Improvements of junction 10 on the M27 face a £20m funding gap, even after a £20m contribution from Buckland.

Councillors vote on the outline plan for the Welborne development.Councillors vote on the outline plan for the Welborne development.
Councillors vote on the outline plan for the Welborne development.

Principal planning officer Mark Wyatt said: ‘It's relevant there is a gap of funding.

‘There is a theoretical consideration where the development grinds to a halt after 1,160 houses are built.’

The application was approved with 67 conditions, including the condition that work will not start until the council knows junction 10 improvement funding is secured.

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A aerial interpretation of Welborne A aerial interpretation of Welborne
A aerial interpretation of Welborne
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Councillor Shaun Cunningham was the only councillor on the committee of nine to vote against the planning application, citing funding for junction 10 as one of many 'big holes' in the plan.

He said: 'Four years ago when we had the public investigation the plan was found to be immature.

'Today its still immature.

'There are so many holes in the plan.

'There are big issues over the funding of junction 10, the ecological impact of the development, and the lack of affordable housing.'

Planning committee chairman Nick Walker also expressed concerns that 10 per cent of the first 1,000 homes would be affordable housing, with a 30 per cent target for the whole site.

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He said: ‘The only concern is that 30 per cent affordable housing situation.

‘We understand that Buckland is trying to gain some capital back in the early stages.’

Mark Thistlethwayte, chairman of Buckland Development Ltd, said he was ‘delighted’ with the decision, which will see it contribute more than £308m to infrastructure projects.

A detailed planning agreement between the council and the developer will now be finalised over the coming months.

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