Gosport councillors 'not being Nimbys' as they object to 1,200 new homes

Fareham Borough Council has received an application for 1,200 homes on land between Longfield Avenue and Peak Lane, between Stubbington and Gosport.

The land falls under Fareham’s jurisdiction, but as the town’s neighbours Gosport Borough Council is also consulted on the plans.

Proposals also include an 80-bed care home, a primary school and a community centre.

At a council meeting on Wednesday evening, Gosport politicians voiced their displeasure at the plans.

Leader of Gosport Borough Council, Cllr Mark Hook, said: ‘From Fareham’s point of view, development in the strategic gaps is something that they are opposed to, and they clearly state that development proposals will not be permitted where it significantly affects the integrity of the gap.

‘That’s something we all agree with – and the leader of Fareham Borough Council agrees with that too, saying that the strategic gap should remain.

‘So I look forward to Fareham refusing this application and to the leader dedicating the strategic gap as future use for potential rewilding, which would give us the opportunity to ensure that the gap remains.’

Ward councillor for Lee East, Cllr Piers Bateman, added: ‘I fully support what Cllr Hook has said, but we’re not being Nimbys either.

‘We cannot afford for Gosport to be strangled yet further by development that impedes the very valuable and limited access routes from this peninsula.

‘This town relies on the roads and this would spill out onto the roads that matter most to us.’

Two public petitions handed to Fareham Borough Council, urging them to protect green spaces, recently gathered more than 3,000 signatures.

The proposal to object to the application gained cross-party support, with Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors also making their feelings known.

Labour councillor for Town ward, Cllr June Cully, said: ‘I support the recommendation that we do object – after experiencing just today the issues at the Peel Common roundabout we can see just how quickly our exit routes build up.

‘Allowing more and more homes to be provided on the strategic gap is just going to exacerbate the problems we already have.’

Councillors voted unanimously against the plans, which were submitted to Fareham Borough Council by Hallam Land Management.

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