Winchester planners delay decision on city centre development pending November site visit.
Residents in a unique part of central Winchester are pleased today after the Planning Development Control Committee agreed to a site visit before approving a controversial planning application.
The proposal is to develop land neighbouring St John’s Croft on Blue Ball Hill in Winchester City Centre for housing.
Steve Brine, Prospective Conservative MP for Winchester has backed the residents since day one. He says "This area is a genuine sanctuary from the ever increasing pace of city life in Winchester. Any development in a Conservation area should positively enhance it and I don’t believe for one moment what’s proposed here will do anything of the kind for St John’s. It is wrong in terms of density, character and its’ likely impact on those already living in the immediate area.
"I am particularly concerned about the removal of so many trees and about parking in the area, which is extremely difficult at the moment in Blue Ball Hill and nearby St Johns Road. As much as anything else, I would urge the planners to consider very carefully the increased traffic flow onto Alresford Road if this development goes ahead in its current form. It is already a dangerous turning, the last thing it needs is more traffic flow.
"The great thing is they will get to see all of this for themselves on the site visit."
Councillors will visit the area on the 14th November.
Steve is pictured with residents in the area last year ...