COUNCILLORS have unanimously rejected ‘shoddy’ plans for 130 new homes at Augusta Park.

Developer Taylor Wimpey put forward the application, intended as the latest part of the East Anton development area which gained outline permission for up to 2,500 homes some 14 years ago - a number not yet reached.

It cited the attached Section 106 agreement which sought provision of a convenience store, retail unit, a pub or restaurant, a health centre, a place of worship, a day nursery, a recycling facility, and dwellings, on the land west of Finkley Farm Road.

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However, the plan itself would be providing only a convenience store, adjacent recycling centre, and open outdoor space in addition to the properties.

Council officers recommended the proposal for rejection on a total of 16 grounds, including that is was not “high quality development”, a shortfall in parking provision, and lack of private outdoor space for apartments located above garage blocks.

At a meeting of the northern area planning committee on Thursday (March 31), residents and councillors alike raised their concerns.

Cllr Barbara Long, mayor of Andover, said: “Smannell Road has wide open spaces, adding to the rural countryside feeling of our town. The shortfall of public open space in the ward has not been adequately addressed within this development.”

She added that the plans were for “unacceptable, dominant, and prominent buildings” and “bland, oppressive, overbearing buildings that fail to improve the character and quality of the area”.

“[Andover Town Council] asks you to refuse this application, as the officers are recommending, and demand that we have a high quality design which the residents of Andover deserve,” she said.

Augusta Park resident Ian Philpott highlighted the lack of plans for other amenities, and added: “Why should they get more at the loss of community space? Once the land is gone, it’s gone. Adding more houses simply increases the demands on the facilities.”

Pressure on existing facilities in the area was an issue echoed by many in attendance. Ward councillor Nick Matthews said that the plan was significantly different to what was expected from the original Section 106 agreement, and therefore what previous public consultation had been based on.

“I respect that the role of developers is to build houses and make money. But it’s us as councillors who have the moral duty to represent our residents above all else, and this plan has not been well received by residents,” he said.

“Many of these residents will have made one of the biggest financial investments of their lives in good faith and will now face nothing more than someone’s car impeding their driveway. They will suffer the effects long after the developers have departed.”

He urged the developers to go “back to the drawing board” and hold a “proper” public consultation.

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In debate, Cllr Kirsty North described the plans as “inadequate” and a “shoddy attempt to force another 130 homes” into the area, while Cllr Christopher Ecclestone said that the lack of consideration of the pressure being put on already over-subscribed local schools is “shocking”.

Members unanimously voted to approve the officers' recommendation of refusal.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Matthews said he was "delighted" that members had backed their plea.