Lightwood acquired a position on a plot of land within the Ruxley Heights estate and after exhaustive legal work, specifically in relation to the release of restrictive covenants, submitted a planning application for two large 4,000ft² houses. Consent was granted locally by officers delegated approval. The houses have subsequently been built and sold.
Hawley Park Farm is located approximately 1.5 kilometres south of Blackwater in Hampshire in close proximity to Junction 4 of the M3. Although situated in Hart District, the site sits on the border with Rushmoor District. Comprising 66 acres, the farm was primarily used as paddocks and home to the Shelley Spear Equestrian Centre.
Despite the site lying within a Conservation Area and forming part of the Strategic Gap between Blackwater and Farnborough, as well as the northwest area of the site lying within the Thames Basin Heath Special Protection Area (SPA), Lightwood identified an opportunity to develop the site and the owners of Hawley Park Farm appointed Lightwood as planning promoter. Lightwood was aware that the local authority did not have a 5 year housing land supply and were also short of Sites of Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG), which are required to mitigate development near the Thames Basin Heath SPA.
The size of the site enabled a unique opportunity to provide 126 much needed residential units on 13 acres to the south west of the site as well as a 40 acre SANG on the eastern half. This did not only mitigate the development that Lightwood was proposing but delivered the opportunity to unlock other potential sites within the district. Lightwood’s foresight in understanding the future requirements of Hart District Council led to the scheme being overwhelmingly supported at planning committee resulting in planning consent being granted.
Awarded locally under delegated powers the scheme provided for the extension and refurbishment of the existing property and creation of a new dwelling to the rear of the property. Situated in a quiet and leafy part of the village the scheme drew on local vernacular to inform its design so that the properties were in keeping and reflective of their surrounding environment.
Working on behalf of the Oxford Diocese, Lightwood began promoting the site as a housing option several years ago. The application itself was twice resolved to be granted consent by the local authority planning committee, however due to the significant political interest it was ‘called in’ by the Secretary of State for further examination. The Planning Inspector recommended that the application be approved and commended it for being ‘par excellence’. The Secretary of State agreed, and consent was ultimately granted.
Although Lightwood had to work with a fractured community, Aylesbury Vale District Council supported the development proposals and endorsed the scheme as a well-planned and sensitively designed extension to the village.
Following the achievement of outline consent the local community began to embrace the opportunities that the development was proposing to deliver and engaged over the provision of public open space and sporting facilities.
Lightwood Property has recently submitted a planning application for 35 residential units in this beautiful Hampshire Village. The site, under Hart Council’s jurisdiction was difficult to plan because of a variety of constraints. We were absolute about protecting the preserved trees and defining a scheme that was fitting with the conservation character of Odiham. Hart’s demanding parking standards and unit mix policy added to the challenge. We are always aware of local residents and Parish Council opinion and we try our hardest to ensure that we listen and try to accommodate all the feedback we receive from both the community and the Planning Department.
