The Site
Site Background
The UK is widely considered to be in a housing crisis, caused by a combination of factors including a shortage of affordable homes, rising house prices, increasing rental costs and not enough housing development to meet demand.
The Eastleigh Local Plan was adopted with a shortfall in housing levels, and an early review is underway. New housing targets have also been set by the Government that require tens of thousands of homes to be built in the Borough.
SSL alongside its professional team have worked over many months to prepare a residential development that respects its surroundings. Ecological and agricultural surveys, drainage tests, highways surveys and other technical investigations have been undertaken to carefully analyse the site’s constraints and identify the opportunities for development. An Outline planning application to build much needed new private and affordable homes on the site is being prepared.
Our objective is to positively transform this site into a pleasant place to live as well as meet housing needs in the local area. A high-quality development is envisaged to match the character of the area.
Site Contraints
The site which is fairly poor quality land extends to 9 hectares on the south eastern side of Horton Heath. Access comes from Snakemoor Lane on the southern boundary. It is bound by Scorey’s Copse to the north and Scorey’s Copse meadow to the east, through and around which a public footpath runs. On the western boundary is a pair of existing dwellings with Botley Road beyond.
The site is well-located with transport links and the amenities of Horton Heath in close proximity. It directly abuts a key route identified in the Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Plan (Fair Oak to Hedge End railway station) and as such is considered a sustainable location. It is located outside of any Settlement Gap, is not Green Belt, nor is it located in a Conservation Area.
Whilst there is existing housing adjacent, there are few over-looking impacts owing to the mature woodland boundaries. The site is unconstrained and well-connected.
The proposed development is focussed on the central part of the site. It is not at risk from flooding, is set back from the woodland, trees and hedgerows and minimises landscape impacts.