Plans for a major new neighbourhood of up to 900 homes on the northern edge of Andover have been opposed by town councillors, who say unanswered questions remain over water supplies, electricity capacity, roads, biodiversity and the impact on historic Knights Enham.
Andover Town Council’s Planning Committee formally objected to the outline application for land at Manor Farm, close to Saxon Way and Enham Lane, when members considered the proposals on Monday, August 24.
The application, reference 26/01622/OUTN, seeks permission for a phased development of up to 900 homes together with 1.5 hectares of land which could accommodate community facilities, a care or nursing home, commercial premises and other services. At this stage all detailed matters are reserved apart from access.
The scale of the scheme makes it one of the most significant housing proposals currently facing the Andover area.
However, the town council is only a statutory consultee. The final decision on whether outline permission should be granted rests with Test Valley Borough Council.
Councillors raise infrastructure concerns
In its formal response, Andover Town Council said it was concerned about whether existing services and infrastructure across the town could cope with another large development, arguing that some facilities are already considered to be operating beyond capacity.
One of the most significant concerns relates to water. Councillors said there was insufficient information or confirmation from Southern Water demonstrating that adequate water-supply capacity exists to serve the proposed development. They also called for Test Valley Borough Council to satisfy itself that the electricity network has sufficient capacity.
Those concerns are particularly significant because Test Valley’s own emerging planning policy says developments must demonstrate adequate water and wastewater capacity and that liaison with water, gas and electricity providers will be required to ensure sufficient network capacity.
National Grid overhead power lines also cross the Manor Farm site. Test Valley’s draft Local Plan acknowledges that they will influence the eventual layout and design of any development and says a specific strategy for dealing with them will be required.
Wildlife and biodiversity questioned
Town councillors also argued that insufficient biodiversity information had been provided to allow the ecological effects of developing the land to be properly assessed.
Their objection raises concerns about possible effects on protected or notable bird species and their habitats, while also questioning whether enough information has been supplied on how biodiversity would be conserved and enhanced.
Members additionally raised concerns about the Habitats Regulations Assessment process, saying the implications for protected sites had not yet been sufficiently addressed. They supported an Environment Agency condition relating to possible land contamination and water pollution, which would require investigation before development proceeds.
The wider Test Valley Local Plan framework requires relevant habitat and species surveys for strategic developments and says schemes should achieve a biodiversity net gain while providing mitigation where protected habitats could be affected.
Historic Knights Enham at heart of heritage concerns
One of the more sensitive aspects of the site is its relationship with Knights Enham, the historic hamlet adjoining its south-eastern edge.
Test Valley Borough Council’s own evidence identifies several important heritage assets nearby, including the Grade I-listed Church of St Michael and All Angels, the Grade II-listed Old Rectory and Grade II-listed Manor Farmhouse. Hungerford Lane, to the north-east, also follows the route of a Roman road.
The emerging Local Plan says a Heritage Impact Assessment should accompany development and envisages a landscape buffer to the north and west of Knights Enham to protect the setting of the historic buildings, particularly the Grade I-listed church.
Town councillors said they remained concerned about the effect hundreds of homes could have on those heritage assets and on the surrounding landscape. They have also called for appropriate archaeological investigation and mitigation before development takes place.
Site has already been earmarked for major growth
The proposal has not appeared from nowhere.
Land at Manor Farm is already being considered by Test Valley Borough Council as a strategic housing allocation in its emerging Local Plan 2042.
Earlier versions of the plan identified the site for around 800 homes, but after further assessment the borough council increased its proposed capacity to approximately 900 homes. Council documents say a review of evidence, constraints and consultation responses indicated that the higher figure could potentially be accommodated.
The draft policy proposes around 900 homes alongside approximately 1.5 hectares of employment land.
That means there is an important distinction between the current planning application and the Local Plan process: although the council is considering allocating Manor Farm for major development in future planning policy, Bellway has now submitted an actual planning application seeking outline permission for the scheme.
The draft Local Plan describes Manor Farm as being immediately north of Saxon Way, south-west of Enham Alamein and north-east of Charlton. It says development would need to connect with existing walking, cycling and public transport networks while retaining important tree lines and providing significant publicly accessible green space.
Several public rights of way also cross the land, with the council identifying opportunities to create links towards Andover Diamond Wood and Harmony Wood.
Bellway says site could deliver wider benefits
Bellway Homes has been promoting land north of Andover for development for several years.
In representations previously submitted during preparation of the Local Plan, the housebuilder described the site as a sustainable urban extension capable of contributing significantly to Test Valley’s housing requirement.
Its earlier proposals highlighted potential benefits including new housing, local employment space, a small local centre, outdoor sports facilities, walking and cycling routes, a community park, allotments and orchards, improvements to public transport and opportunities for biodiversity enhancement. Bellway also previously identified the possibility of a small solar farm.
Those earlier representations do not themselves amount to planning permission, and the current application must be assessed on the documentation now before the borough council.
Roads and parking also under scrutiny
Highways are another issue raised by Andover Town Council.
The emerging Local Plan anticipates the principal access being from Saxon Way, with possible junction improvements depending on the findings of a transport assessment.
Town councillors have asked for further information from Hampshire County Council’s highways authority about the development’s effect on the wider strategic road network.
They have also challenged the amount of parking proposed, saying provision needs to comply with Test Valley’s standards.
Part of a much bigger expansion of Andover
The Manor Farm application comes against the backdrop of substantial proposed growth around Andover.
Test Valley’s revised draft Local Plan includes Manor Farm among several major allocations around the town, alongside approximately 1,400 homes at Bere Hill, 1,150 at Finkley Down Farm, 200 east of Smannell Lane and other developments around the wider northern Test Valley area.
The borough council has said changes to national housing policy have forced it to revisit its strategy after its calculated housing requirement increased substantially. The introduction to the revised draft Local Plan refers to a 78 per cent increase in the housing requirement.
That wider picture is likely to intensify debate over whether roads, schools, healthcare, water, sewerage, electricity and other infrastructure can keep pace with housing growth.
What happens next?
Andover Town Council’s objection does not mean the 900-home development has been refused.
Its comments will form part of the evidence considered by Test Valley Borough Council alongside responses from residents, neighbouring parish councils, highways officers, environmental specialists, utility companies and other statutory consultees.
The town council’s minutes make clear that members are not simply opposing housing numbers. Their objection focuses on whether the infrastructure and environmental evidence currently available is sufficient to demonstrate that development on this scale can be accommodated safely and sustainably.
With Manor Farm already identified for approximately 900 homes in Test Valley’s emerging Local Plan, the argument is therefore likely to centre increasingly on how the land could be developed, what infrastructure would have to come first and whether the safeguards proposed are strong enough, rather than solely on whether northern Andover should grow at all.
For residents wishing to follow the application, the planning reference is 26/01622/OUTN.