We are pleased to have received a resolution to grant full planning permission from New Forest District Council (NFDC) planning committee for 60 new homes in Hill Street, Calmore, on the edge of the New Forest. The scheme includes a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom homes, of which 35% will be affordable housing delivered by VIVID in accordance with New Forest’s Local Plan policy. It also includes Alternative Natural Recreational Green Space (ANRG) at the heart of the development.
Located on agricultural land to the north of Salisbury Road, north-west of the town of Totton, the site has been allocated as a strategic site for development in the adopted New Forest Local Plan. The Council’s Plan outlines the requirement and acceptable locations of at least 1,000 dwellings and commercial and community infrastructure.
Our approved plans for the 3.8Ha (9.4-acre) site include a mix of new homes including 27 apartments and maisonettes and 33 terraced, and semi-detached houses in two development pockets joined by the ANRG space. The 21 homes that will be delivered to VIVID will be a mix of social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership tenures. New vehicle access points will be created from Hill Street to enable easy access to both development areas. Paths for pedestrians and cyclists will cross the green space, linking the two development areas and providing sustainable access to routes further afield.
Our Managing Director, Mark White, said: “We’re thrilled to have received the go ahead from NFDC for our development plans in Hill Street, Calmore. It is well known there is a shortage of housing opportunities for local people in the New Forest, so we are pleased to have the opportunity to deliver 60 beautiful new mixed tenure homes here. This builds on the recent committee approval for our scheme of 90 new homes in nearby Pennington.
“Our team of local people understand the diverse needs for a mixture of new homes for local communities, whether that’s affordable rental properties, homes for first time buyers or for growing families. Our plans for this site in the picturesque rural location of Calmore address those needs. The highly energy-efficient houses and apartments will benefit from vast amounts of green space and an array of good amenities on the doorstep. We’re pleased to be working with NFDC to help meet local housing needs and look forward to being able to break ground on this site in the coming months.”
The development layout has been carefully considered with a rural aesthetic to complement its surroundings. Some properties will feature bay windows and timber cladding, while others have been designed with a clean multi-brick palette. As well as eco-efficient, high EPC-rated homes, the development will include the provision of 133 resident parking spaces with each home installed with an EV car charging point. There will also be 10 additional visitor parking spaces. The parking provision has been designed to not dominate the site, but to be integrated with soft landscaping to maximise the green space and rural feel of the new community.
The site is sustainably located with good access to public transport, facilities and services including food shops, healthcare, and education in nearby Totton. The immediate area provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities including the renowned Testwood Lakes nature reserve. AFC Totton and Totton and Eling FC is just a 10-minute walk away, providing sessions for children of all ages. The location also enables ease of access via car or public transport to employment opportunities in Totton, and the nearby city of Southampton. Totton train station is a 14-minute cycle from the development providing quick links to the mainline at Southampton Central for onward travel to Portsmouth and London.
