For a list of the Society’s latest planning activity please click on this link: Planning list 04 Sep 2013
LymSoc planning list Aug 2013
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Category Archives: Campaigns
LymSoc planning list July 2013
You can view the latest planning list for 31 July 2013 here
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For a list of the Society’s planning activity please click on this link: Planning Jun 2013
Planning 28 May 2013
Travis Perkins site Lymington; Pennyfarthing Homes Ltd will soon submit proposals for a 23/ 25 home development. The planning consultants Tanner & Tilley have sent out a letter to local residents for their comments by 27.05.2013. LymSoc action: we posted details on our website with a copy of the PDF asking for comments; we contacted Tanner & Tilley Marketing Director to ask for a few days extension to their deadline as we expected to discuss the proposals at our next meeting 28.05.2013; also asked if the application is likely to be for outline permission only as with the drawings presented it’s only possible to focus on the lay-out and density of the proposals.
10360; The Lodge, 4 Milford Road; 4 houses; associated parking (demolition of existing). Comment: this was a tree lined stretch of Milford Road on the approach to Lymington from West. A neighbour reports that the developer cleared the site including trees prior to his submission. Reccomendation: LymSoc to object on grounds of local distinctiveness; importance of location at entrance to town; ask for reduction in density; restore aspect. http://web3.newforest.gov.uk/ConnectAcolaidWebExternal/GetDocumentContentExternal.aspx?documentId=581523&filename=Proposed+Site+Layout+Plan.pdf
For the record
Sites & Development Management Plan; we agree on the need for ‘affordable’ housing locally but the NFDC proposal to allocate development of around 150 houses on ‘green belt’ sites at Lym 1 (Pinetops) and Lym 2 (north of Alexandra Road) would compromise the town’s boundaries. Action: LymSoc representative spoke at re-scheduled hearing 23 Apr 2013 and put it to the Inspector that the SDMP was unsound as the Council had failed to provide evidence of having considered reasonable alternatives to the sites allocated for additional housing and that the choice of locations locally might be better addressed through a Neighbourhood Plan. Comment: Inspector accepted NFDC’s proposition that due to land values within the town, the only sites where additional housing could be sited was within the green belt surrounding Lymington & Pennington; the Inspector at the Core Strategy hearing had accepted this proposition and he was not going to disagree. Status: Inspector’s interim report is due within weeks.
10257; Gordleton Industrial Park, Hannah Way; construct buildings for industrial, storage and business use (Use Classes B1, B2, & B8) (Outline Application with details only of access, layout and scale). Action: LymSoc objection submitted. Status: Application withdrawn by agent’s e-mail dated 10th May 2013. Comment: a revised application seems very likely before long so we need to remain vigilant and flag it so that people can have their say.
10148; Berthon Boat Company Ltd, Bath Road; retention of cladding; door and fenestration alterations to West Solent shed. Comment: Retrospective application to retain cladding carried out last year, resulting in the infilling of part of a building that was previously open sided. Site is just outside Conservation Area, although the new cladding is visible from viewpoints within and there is a Listed Building fairly close to the north side of the site. NFDC case officer says “The impact of the development on the character and appearance of the adjacent Conservation Area and the setting of the nearby Listed Building are material planning considerations”. However, you might think that cladding might actually be of benefit e.g. in terms of preventing pollution/ noise and is relatively immaterial compared to the presence of the shed itself. Action: none – we considered an objection but agreed the proposed cladding work looks innocuous. Status: NFDC Conservation Officer seeks clarification.
10163; 3 Grove Pastures (Conservation Area); single-storey rear extension. The case officer says “proposed rear extension would be in keeping with the existing property and would not be visible from the street”. Recommendation: leave to NFDC Conservation officer. Status: NFDC Conservation Team recommends approval subject to alterations in height/ design of cornicing and roof lanterns.
Enforcement update
EN/09/0270 Bridge Cottage; Bridge Road [Refers to APP/B1740/C/12/2175912 appeal against enforcement]. Status: decision date 30.10.2012; time for compliance: 12 months i.e. by end Oct 2013.
Buffalo Bar, St. Thomas St; neon signage. Status: NFDC say they are putting together a case with a view to issuing legal instructions within around 2 weeks unless they comply.
EN/09/0614; Unit 3, Anchor House, Bath Road. Unauthorised Change Of Use: FROM A MIXED USE OF COMMERCIAL OFFICES AND COFFEE SHOP USE TO A MIXED USE AS A CAFE, RESTAURANT AND BAR WITH ASSOCIATED OUTSIDE EATING AND DRINKING SPACE. Status: enforcement notice issued; owner has appealed; an Inspector is to decide outcome using written representations (deadline 13.03.2013). APP/B1740/C/12/2189220; appeal against enforcement. Status: not yet decided. http://www.pcs.planningportal.gov.uk/pcsportal/ViewCase.asp?caseid=2189220&coid=210675.
Gordleton expansion: our planning response
Gordleton update: there’s a new application registered 19 Aug 2013- see NFDC website. Then, add your comments on this website.
11033; Gordleton Industrial Park; construct buildings for industrial, storage and business use (Use Classes B1, B2, & B8) (Outline Application with details only of access, layout and scale).
Update: Application withdrawn by agent’s e-mail dated 10th May 2013.
The NFDC is considering an application to increase the size of Gordleton industrial park by around 30%. We are in favour of developing employment opportunities in Lymington and Pennington but this is not the right location.
Planning permission for the original Gordleton Industrial Park was granted at appeal in 1979. When it was first built Gordleton was the main option for expanding employment locally but there are now reasonable alternatives. Industrial capacity has been added in the immediate area and nearby, notably at Ampress. We understand there is a large unoccupied unit at Gordleton, together with undeveloped space within the existing site.
The capacity of the existing access roads is completely inadequate to bear the increased levels of traffic that this proposal implies. The size of lorries when Gordleton first opened was a lot smaller than today. The ambulance station at Gordleton has introduced additional pressure on nearby roads. This proposal would risk producing delays that could have serious consequences.
Contrary to Local Plan policy The Transport Assessment submitted with this application underestimates the impact of the likely increase in traffic. It does not make it clear that the only practical approach to the site for large vehicles is along the Sway Road. The increased traffic along this narrow road would deter other road users e.g. cyclists, pedestrians and walkers from using the road. The application cannot therefore be considered to comply with Local Plan policy CS24.
In 1998, a similar planning application was refused in part because the roads leading to the site were considered to be of inadequate width and alignment to accommodate the additional traffic likely to be generated by the development.
We understand that at a meeting on 18.04.2013, Lymington & Pennington Town Council decided to recommend refusal of this application. We ask the Council to support the recommendation of their planning officers and refuse this application. ENDS.
Application details: 13/10257; Gordleton Industrial Park, Hannah Way SO41 8JD. Proposal: construct buildings for industrial, storage and business use (Use Classes B1, B2, & B8) (Outline Application with details only of access, layout and scale).
See our objection and all comments on the NFDC website:
http://planweb3.newforest.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_NEWFO_DCAPR_182684.
Sale of the Lymington Bus Station for Redevelopment
The Lymington Society has been aware for several years of the likelihood that the bus station would one day be sold for development as it has previously been listed by the NFDC as a potential site in its housing planning guidance.
Now that the site is finally to be sold, the Society very much welcomes the fact that the bus services operated from the bus station will not be curtailed and that the funds raised will be used to support the continuation of a full bus service. We are also pleased to hear that there will be no redundancies due to the sale.
In these difficult times bus services provide a vital lifeline for poorer families and older people especially and we hope that all the current services will continue much as before. We hope that this opportunity will be taken to ensure that the service fully integrates with the train service at the railway station.
Speaking to the A & T after the announcement of the sale of the Bus Station Lymington Society Press Spokesman said:
“Clearly any future development which emerges on this unique site will need to be carefully designed to fit in to the heart of the Georgian centre of Lymington and the Society will work with the community to ensure that any designs chosen are suitable.
However the prospect of a large new development right in the centre of the town which could contain new housing as well as retail and business elements is an exciting prospect.
A suitable development is certainly something that the Society would welcome as it could inject much needed vitality into the centre of the town at this difficult time for many traders and the local economy.
In combination with the exciting Redrow development which is now proceeding apace, any eventual development could have a major effect in helping to rejuvenate the town.
The Lymington Society would welcome the opportunity to take an active part in consultations with the eventual owners to try and obtain the best result possible for the town on this important site”
Greenbelt development 2013
Public hearing on ‘green belt’ housing in Lymington & Pennington 23rd April at 
1.30 pm. As part of the Sites & Development Management plan the New Forest District Council is looking at sites that could provide an additional 150 new homes, up to 70% of them affordable homes, on ‘green belt’ sites at Pinetops nurseries (listed as ‘Lym 1’ in the plan) and at a site to the north of Alexandra Road (‘Lym 2’). The Council has acknowledged our input at each stage of consultation on the preparation of the plan. The final stage of the formal adoption process is a public hearing at which a Planning Inspector tests the ‘soundness’ of the plan. The hearing began in February but some sessions had to be re-scheduled, owing to the Inspector’s illness. The session on ‘green belt’ housing in Lymington & Pennington is now scheduled for 23rd April at 1.30 pm at the NFDC offices at Appletree Court, Lyndhurst. See details for the public hearing at: http://www.newforest.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=10281
The Society understands and supports the need for affordable housing locally but there are reasonable alternatives to encroaching onto these green belt areas. Planning policy allows small scale exceptions to the prohibition on green belt development in special circumstances but the scale of the development proposed cannot be considered small scale. Neither of these sites is suitable for the scale of development proposed which would have significant implications on traffic and infrastructure locally. It would urbanise and significantly alter the character that is valued locally and highlighted in the Lymington Local Distinctiveness SPD.
We think that the sites and development management plan fails to properly consider reasonable alternatives for the location of additional housing locally – including affordable housing – and will be arguing strongly against the allocations at Pinetops and Alexandra Road at the hearing.
Background: The NFDC Sites and Development Management plan sets out the detailed proposals required to implement the planning strategy for the area agreed through the Core Strategy (adopted in 2009). The plan allocates a limited amount of greenfield land for new development to meet the local need for additional housing, affordable housing and employment. Between 2006 – 2026, the overall South East Plan requires 3,920 additional dwellings.
The Society’s view on the listing of the Sea Water Baths
The Lymington Society has been aware for some time that English Heritage was considering a possible listing of the Lymington Sea Water Baths and that they had commissioned a detailed report on the historic significance of the baths. We now very much welcome the outcome of their deliberations and their decision to list the baths as Grade Two Listed
The Lymington Society has been concerned for some time that the unique charm and historic settings of the Lymington Sea Water baths could be under threat from some of the more ambitious schemes that were being debated around the town. Whilst appreciating that the maintenance of the baths and their safe operation had become increasingly problematic in this more safety conscious era, we were concerned that the rumoured redevelopment proposals could threaten the future of the baths as many have known and loved them for generations.
Speaking after the announcement by English Heritage Don Mackenzie Lymington Society Spokesman said:
We made enquires several months ago with English Heritage as to how the Society could take forward the listing of the baths. We found that a request had already been made to English Heritage and that rather than reject this application they had produced an in-depth report on the history and significance of the baths. We were pleased to add our support to the original request from a member of the public for listing to be granted.
We felt that in view of English Heritage’s findings concerning the great historic importance of the baths that they would be more likely than not to agree to the listing. Now that English Heritage has completed their assessment and has decided to list the baths we are very pleased and fully support their decision which may be the key to the baths long term retention and improvement.
Whilst understanding that this decision may be viewed by some as making necessary redevelopment of the baths more difficult, we sincerely hope that the listing of the baths will now in fact make it easier to obtain the vital funds that the bath need in order to guarantee their long term future. We hope that the authorities will understand that despite the listing, some sympathetic development of the baths and the area around them may well still be needed to give them a long term future.
Redrow Traffic Survey
Greenfield Site Development 2012
Sites and Development Management Development Plan Document On 20 January 2012 the District Council will publish for a six week Representation period, the proposed Submission Document of the Sites and Development Management Development Plan Document. This follows a six week public consultation that took place in January to March 2011. The Sites and Development Management DPD will set out the detailed proposals and policies required to implement the planning strategy for the area agreed through the Core Strategy (adopted in 2009). The Plan will include the allocation of a limited amount of greenfield land for new development required to meet the local need for additional housing, affordable housing and employment land. It will also provide additional development management policies to assist the implementation of the Core Strategy.’
Between 2006 – 2026, the overall South East Plan requires 3,920 additional dwellings. As part of the Sites & Development Management plan the Council is looking at sites that could provide up to around 150 of these dwellings in Lymington & Pennington. The Council has acknowledged LymSoc’s input to their consultation and confirmed that they will take account of our comments. The deadline for comments has now expired but they say that they’ll notify us “towards the end of 2011″, of a further “six week period during which formal representations about the Plan may be made”
The Lymington Society 