The housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, has backed the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to deny Wates Developments permission for a 700-home housing scheme on a 59-ha green field site, north-west of Fleet, in Hampshire.
The site, Elvetham Chase, lies between the M3, Fleet Road, the railway line and the river Hart. The new housing would have formed an extension of the existing Elvetham Heath estate. The development would have included 280 affordable homes, road and roundabout improvements, a village green and a new primary school. It was rejected by Hart DC last year but Wates appealed.
The development had attracted considerable opposition, including from local residents, the Fleet and Crookham Society and Elvetham Heath parish council which commented: "The local secondary schools and medical facilities can barely cope with the current level of residents – problems that will be exacerbated by an additional 700 homes. Elvetham Heath Way will become a rat-run for people accessing the M3."
Katie Davies, a resident of Elvetham Heath, said: "The road systems are already highly congested and pose a significant risk to children who are walking to and from school. As parents we have a reasonable expectation that we should be able to walk to school."
Hart DC’s Local Plan contains a target to build 10,185 houses. The Elvetham Chase site is not included in the plan.
When the application was made, Emma Gruenbaum for Wates Developments said: "We believe that Elvetham Chase will make a significant contribution to delivering Hart DC’s housing supply requirements, with the first homes ready for occupation in 2019. It will generate millions of pounds to be spent on improvements to the local transport network, school places and many other local community facilities."