`Affordable homes needed'

From the archive, first published Monday 17th Oct 2005.

NEW homes should be built at Barton Farm to help address the city's shortage of affordable homes, according to a developer.

At a public inquiry into the refusal of the city council to approve the plans, Martin Kingston QC, counsel for Cala Homes, said Winchester was at risk of becoming "socially divided" between those people who could, and could not afford to live in the area.

The developer applied for outline permission last year to build 2,000 homes at the 208-acre site off Andover Road, Winchester, which was refused by the city council.

Cala Homes lodged an appeal, saying the authority took too long to reach a decision, but the council said it was not given enough information in time.

A Government inspector opened an inquiry at St John's House in The Broadway on Tuesday, to settle the issue.

Michael Bedford, for the council, said there were restrictions on the release of Barton Farm, and that it did not need to be made available yet.

He added that the proposed development would ruin Winchester's relationship with the surrounding countryside, and have a substantial landscape impact.

He also argued that Cala Homes' proposals did not fully address traffic issues.

Alan Weeks, who chairs the Winchester City Residents' Association, said after the meeting: "The city cannot absorb a development of this size. It's getting worse because of infill developments.

"If this proposal is permitted, the sense of grandeur in this historic city will disappear."

The Save Barton Farm Group agreed, and said the land should be retained for agriculture.

Barton Farm is one of five options for new housing under recommendations in the Draft South East Plan.

Another is for up to 5,500 new homes to be built on MoD land at Bordon, which could pre-empt the Barton Farm scheme.

The inquiry is due to be adjourned today (Friday) and is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, October 25.

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