EARLY plans have been unveiled for a new development in Ringwood which could see 491 homes built.

A presentation was given to Ringwood Town Council from St Congar, a land promotion business, and the project team, who are developing plans for land at Moortown Lane, which is strategic site 13 in New Forest District Council’s local plan.

The site has been allocated for at least 480 homes as well as provision of open space.

Alan Bennett, of Ken Parke Planning, said the vision was to create a “well-designed and considered landscape-led development, which positively integrates with the existing urban area of Ringwood and fosters a strong sense of community and brings forward new recreational opportunities on the doorstep of local residents and also which contributes towards the established character of Ringwood as a green settlement on the edge of the New Forest National Park”.

There would be a linked network of recreational greenspaces through the site as well as biodiversity and landscape enhancements. And it would also look to provide a “connected route” from the A31 down to Christchurch Road.

Site access

Steve Jenkins, of i-Transport, said the main vehicle access into the site onto Moortown Lane was likely to be a priority junction.

There would also be a network of roads allowing for possible future connections to the north and east. New walking and cycling routes are also proposed.

The meeting heard a masterplan for the site was a “work in progress” and “evolving”.

Deputy mayor, Philip Day said he had concerns about the connectivity from the A31 at Christchurch Road due to the narrowness of Crow Lane and the “lack of any main access into the site other than from Moortown Lane”, which was also narrow.

Councillor Steve Rippon Swaine welcomed work to consider a link between the A31 and Christchurch Road. He said: “The council have dearly loved the idea of a link between the A31 and Christchurch Road. If there is major thought and work going towards that I much commend it. The town centre needs to be saved from the industrial , commercial and HGVs that run through daily.”

Councillor Jeremy Heron felt a priority junction for the site access “would not satisfy the traffic flow” and a roundabout was needed. The meeting heard this would be looked at carefully.

Mayor Tony Ring said: “If the plan does evolve into a connecting link to come through what is in plan at the moment for the land north of Hightown Road to meet with the A31. Then your are effectively going to create a town centre bypass which potentially can carry a huge amount of traffic. I think there will be a great deal of concern on that as well as the normal points of concern in Ringwood at the moment on infrastructure, surface water and foul drainage.

“I will accept there is a long way to go yet.”

Housing

The site would deliver up to 491 market and affordable homes including one and two bed apartments and homes, to five-bed family homes.

Affordable housing would be provided but the proportion has yet to be confirmed. There would be a 50/50 split of market and affordable homes. The affordable homes would be a mix of tenures, with an element of shared ownership and rented.

Schooling

In terms of schooling there could be an “upgrade” at the existing Poulner schools site. But this was a matter for New Forest District Council and Hampshire County Council.

The meeting heard there was no room for expansion at the Ringwood primary school sites.

Councillor Hilary Edge said shops and schools were already “over capacity” and roads were already congested. She said another primary school was needed as well as more shops.

The next steps

A public consultation will be held later this month with plans to submit an outline application in early summer.

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