PLANS to build seven new homes in Ashford came before Fordingbridge Town Council’s planning committee.

The application seeking outline planning permission for the development on land off Jubilee Crescent, which would include access provided off Jubilee Crescent, was discussed during a meeting last week, which was held online via Zoom.

Councillor Alan Lewendon said there were currently no designs of the housing but the layout looked “quite reasonable”.

He said the area was home to reptiles, frogs and toads and that a census of the area found slow worms, grass snakes, frogs and toads as well as a “considerable amount” of bat activity.

There would also be a wildlife habit mitigation buffer zone to the north west corner of the development.

He told the meeting there appeared to be “sufficient parking” for the houses and the “through flow of traffic of the existing part of Jubilee Crescent through Jubilee Close shouldn’t be too much greater than it is now”.

According to the planning statement submitted with the application plots 1, 4 and 5 would have three bedrooms, and the remainder would be four bedrooms. Five of the dwellings are detached while the remainder are semi-detached.

The planning statement submitted with the application says it was in a “sustainable location” and will “help deliver a site allocated in the Development Plan”.

It also states that the proposed scheme will “provide seven family homes to help meet the district’s housing requirement” and the site is “sensitively located in the landscape and will not result in any visual harm”.

Another resident said in terms of support residents were “neutral” about the development rather than supportive providing “adequate measures are taken for access” and other points that had been raised.

Concerns over access and privacy, disruption and traffic caused during construction, parking arrangements, and drainage have been raised by residents on the application on the New Forest District Council (NFDC) website.

Councillor Edward Hale said: “Because the site has always been designated for development it is very difficult for us to oppose it unless we have a good reason.”

Councillors agreed to accept the decision reached by NFDC.