A BUILDER has won an appeal against the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s decision to reject its plan for an 82-home development in Overton.

The appeal made by Bewley Homes and Romanina Real Estate for the development on the edge of Overton has been approved by an inspector, eight months after the council threw out the proposal.

In March this year, the councillors had unanimously decided to reject the plan for the land off Two Gate Lane after its junction with the B3400 was deemed unsafe.

Concerns were also raised that a kickabout space in the new development would cause nuisance to existing residents of Two Gate Meadow, and that gardens planned for one-bedroom units on the site were too small.

However, the builder has now received the green light to go forward following a successful appeal.

Appeal inspector Guy Davies, appointed by the secretary of state, held an inquiry during October 12-15 and visited the site on October 18, before making his decision.

He found that the concerns of the council have been largely overcome by the appellants through the submission of amended plans. The inquiry also found that access to the development via B3400 is safe.

The revised plans include changing the dwellings from one-bedroom houses to one-bedroom apartments with shared gardens.

A spokesperson for Bewley Homes said the developer will now build 82 homes, including one-bedroom apartments, two, three and four-bedroom homes, as well as provision for public open space at the site. According to the proposal, 33 of these houses will be affordable homes.

Andrew Brooks, managing director at Bewley Homes, said: “We are delighted with the inspector’s decision and can now move forward with this superb scheme in Overton.

“Bewley Homes worked very hard with the planning officers and statutory consultees on this scheme which led to an officer’s recommendation for approval when the application went to the committee earlier in the year.

It’s rare you get a positive recommendation from all statutory consultees and with this site adopted in both the neighbourhood and local plans it was a major surprise the committee voted against its professional officers’ advice and refused our application.

“This is not the first time Bewley Homes has built in Overton and we are now looking forward to delivering our high-quality Garden Village Collection of homes for both private and affordable tenure. These 82 quality new homes will help some of the way to satisfy the local demand for new housing in Overton and in the Basingstoke and Deane borough.”