Plans for 53 homes on the outskirts of Fordingbridge have been recommended for approval.

A proposal to build 41 houses and 12 flats on a disused Second World War depot on the northern outskirts near Salisbury Road has been recommended for approval to the New Forest District Council. 

Bordering Fordingbridge Nursery and Pre-school, the plans also involve the conversion of a current residential property on-site, Middle Burgate House, into four flats and the construction of a new eight-flat building.

Salisbury Journal: Plans for 41 homes and 12 flats have been recommended for approval.

Case officer Stephen Belli said: "Overall given there are no technical objections to the proposal which coupled with the substantial public benefits including those centred on the release of much needed open market and affordable housing.

"As such, it is considered that the benefits of the proposal outweigh any of the identified harm. As such, the proposal is recommended for approval subject to conditions."

All 12 flats will be made into affordable housing while the 41 houses will be made from three on-bed dwellings, 19 two-bed houses, 11 three-bed houses, and eight four-bed houses.

The proposal has seen some objections from locals complaining of 'overdevelopment' but also has seen support calling plans an 'imaginative' use of space. 

Mike Etherington, resident on Salisbury Road, said: "I have seen the proposals for this development of 48 dwellings and support it on the following grounds - It is small in scale, not a huge development, it is imaginative and has been designed to incorporate the latest in ecological advances, unlike some developments which are building "yesterdays housing".

"My only possible objection is the increase in traffic this will generate onto the A338. Therefore I feel that the existing speed restriction of 40mph should be reduced to 30mph throughout Burgate."

The new block of flats is planned to be built of a mixture of red brick and timer effect cladding with a corrugated tin roof and will be positioned adjacent to Middle Burgate House. 

The proposed residential apartments have a planned total of 24 parking spaces, comprising 20 spaces for residents and four unallocated spaces for visitors.

The plans will go to the planning committee on May 8.