There has been an application from a developer to build four new houses on the land behind Cambridge Cottage, on Andover Road, Monxton.

The proposed new entrance, opposite Little Thatch, would be just below the pinch point on the Andover Road This entrance has very poor sight lines up towards Andover and could be the cause of traffic incidents. HCC Highways will comment on this point in due course.

The site is also outside the settlement boundary and therefore designated as countryside so TVBC has raised an objection on these grounds (click here).

Monxton Parish Council has objected to this development and a copy of the letter of objection is below, if you would like to use this as a template for your own letter.

If residents are minded to comment on this application, either to object to support, you should either register on the TVBC website or write to the Planning Officer, Emma Jones, at TVBC Planning Department at Beechhurst, with a copy to Monxton Parish Council Chairman, Mike Cleugh at Rectory Cottage, Monxton. Email mikecleugh@hotmail.com

The date to file your comments is before the 23rd November 2018.

Letter of Objection from Monxton Parish Council

Monxton Parish Council objects in the strongest terms to this application, which is totally unwelcome and not in keeping with any aspect of the village design statement in that it completely detracts from the rural nature of the village, which is in a conservation area and which has approximately 50%, grade 2 listed thatched cottages, two of which are adjacent to this executive house suburban development in an ancient village.

 Our objections are based on planning policies and are as follows:  

1. Contrary to TVBC Local Plan – The development would be situated outside the settlement boundary and as such would be development in the countryside which is outside TVBC planning policy – COM2 (Settlement Hierarchy)
2. Contrary to Monxton Village Statement –  Unacceptably adverse impact on the character of the surrounding area and on the amenities of the properties adjacent to the site by reason of overlooking, loss of privacy and visually overbearing impact. The houses proposed are typical suburban 4/5 bedroom houses totally out of character with the neighbouring grade 2 Thatched listed properties namely Little Thatch and Little Cottage.
3. Contrary to Highways policy – totally inadequate sight lines – The site access proposals are not in accordance with acceptable standards and would lead to potential traffic safety problems.  The poor sight lines of less than 10 metres for vehicles coming down from Andover would mean cars leaving the site going to turn right would have no time to avoid accidents as this area is the pinch point on that section of the highway and has created several accidents over the years as two cars can only just pass at that point currently.
4. Noise and Light pollution – The area is currently an open water meadow and any new buildings would have an adverse impact on surrounding properties caused by increased noise caused by vehicles and light pollution from the new buildings.
5. Ecology – The new houses would have an adverse impact and harm to the high ecological value of the site as they would take land used by various riverside mammals and birds and create barriers to free access to the river.
6. The Pillhill Brook – any potential effluent or waste from the properties would risk contamination and harm to the Pillhill Brook, a unique chalk stream, which has a high habitat value and is an important wildlife corridor. The current pumping station at Chalkpit Lane is already at maximum capacity and has had huge problems for the last few years in having huge tankers take the wastewater out of the village in the winter months for many weeks causing disruption and noise to villagers. Southern Water should be contacted for their views on the impact of additional houses as a matter of urgency.  
7. Flooding risk – currently lower parts of Meadow View, which borders the site, has a pond forming in the winter in the lower southern corner which would mean would mean that plots 3 & 4 may suffer flooding of their gardens at the very least.
8. Impact to the environment of the piling foundations required: Meadow Lodge which was built in the 1960s is currently built on 30 piles over 11 metres deep. (We note, however, no piling is mentioned for the design of the houses in the application. This could have a major impact on the geology of the meadow and the potential to disrupt underground sub-surface water flows from the higher ground down to the river. In addition, the houses’ foundations could also affect the hydrology of the area causing potential harm to adjacent buildings.)
9. The current trees lining the edges of the meadow, we believe, would cause severe shading to the houses and would very quickly be felled to improve the light into the gardens. We urge TVBC to put Tree Protection Orders (TPOs) on all trees bordering the property to ensure that they are not cut down in the future.
10. Site Access: we understand that the owner tried unsuccessfully to obtain access to the field from Andover Road and was refused by TVBC, and also at appeal to the then Department of Environment & Transport by the Inspector in 1987 (copies of these refusals sent to Emma Jones at TVBC on the 8/11/18) and in addition we understand that the land in front of the current entrance is owned by Hampshire Highways, which TVBC will investigate.