Two new phases at North Stoneham Park win planning approvals

Two planning applications for new phases of construction at the development have been given the go-ahead by Eastleigh Local Area Committee (ELAC). The applications were heard by the planning committee during ELAC’s first ever planning meeting held before a live online audience in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic distancing restrictions.

Stage 3 of the Stoneham development, referred to as Areas 5B and 5C, comprises 65 new homes that Highwood will be building for Aspect. Aspect works in partnership with regional and national housebuilders like Highwood to deliver more homes to market more quickly to meet the area’s full range of housing need.

The Stage 3 development already had a reserved matters planning consent for 39 units, but this was extended to accommodate the local requirement for new homes. In line with the affordable housing threshold, the scheme will comprise 35% of affordable housing and the remaining 65% will be open market tenure units for the private rented sector (PRS).

Highwood will be building a mix of apartments and houses and construction is scheduled to comment in the first quarter of 2021. Highwood’s Planning Manager, Jon Bray, highlighted the sensitivity that was required in designing the scheme to ensure it would complement the Park’s community setting and its hugely successful environmental achievements.

‘Naturally we’re delighted the Committee has supported our scheme so enthusiastically,’ he revealed. ‘We’ve remained sympathetic to the high quality of design, landscaping, build and delivery that has been such an integral feature of the North Stoneham Park community to date. We’ve been very careful to remain respectful of important ecological buffers and, collaborating closely with planning officers, we’ve refined our designs to incorporate suggestions to enhance it further. The result is a stunning, green courtyard layout for the part of the site that will accommodate the apartments and additional car parking to serve their residents.’

Unanimous support for the Stoneham care village

In addition to the Stage 3 application, Highwood’s plans for a state-of-the-art care home and specialist accommodation for the elderly on the Park Farm site were also held at the same planning meeting.

The proposed care village is set to comprise a prestigious 7000 sq.m., mansion-style building that pays homage to the site’s heritage and will offer 40 luxurious, high quality care suites along with a wealth of fabulous facilities, including a restaurant, impressive lounges, spa, salon and swimming pool and enviable communal spaces.

The proposed scheme, known as the Stoneham Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) and submitted on behalf of Highwood and its leading care partner, Cinnamon Retirement Living, is a complex undertaking, not least because the land involved straddles two authorities; Eastleigh and Test Valley (TVBC) Borough Councils. To this end, ELAC heard the initial application and voted overwhelmingly to grant consent for the plans commenting that the scheme would complete the picture for the North Stoneham Park development, as Jon Bray reaffirmed.

‘The CCRC represents the final part of the Park community, which caters for the young through to the old,’ he explained. ‘In terms of environmental benefit, the proposals will transform Park Farm, which prior to Highwood’s purchase was subject to unregulated and unneighbourly activities. It will bring new life to the neglected former Coach House, improve the setting of the listed wall, provide a new woodland walk and arboretum and deliver a landmark building for Avenue Park.

‘The project will represent a fantastic investment into the area, notably in terms of increased local spend and job creation – we anticipate the scheme will create some 140 jobs for the local community.’

Paul Jackson, Cinnamon Retirement Living Director, commented, ‘we are delighted with the decision and hope that TVBC will be similarly supportive when the application comes before their committee later this month. North Stoneham Park is a fantastic scheme and is one of three new retirement villages we plan to start construction of over the next 12 months.’

The application will be heard by Test Valley Borough Council’s planners on 23^rd June; in advance of that meeting, its Planning Officer has recommended permission be granted for the project, subject to compliance with various requests. If successful, construction will commence later this summer.