Press Release

7 November 2019

Planning appeal for new homes in Portchester dismissed

Fareham Borough Council has successfully defended an appeal by Miller Homes for up to 350 new homes on land to the east of Downend Road, Portchester.

The planning application was refused by the Planning Committee on 26 April 2019 following which an appeal was lodged by the developers. An Inspector was appointed by the Secretary of State and a Public Local Inquiry and site visits took place between 24 and 26 September this year. The decision to dismiss the appeal was published by the Planning Inspectorate on 4 November 2019.

In his decision letter dismissing the appeal the Planning Inspector shared the same concerns as the Council and many local residents in respect of proposals for the Downend Road railway bridge. Two proposals were put forward by the developer in respect of the railway bridge on Downend Road. The Inspector found that one of the proposals would not make safe provision for pedestrians and cars to cross the bridge at the same time. The Inspector found that the other proposal would have made safe provision for pedestrians but would have caused unacceptable levels of vehicle queuing and driver delay on Downend Road.

Summing up his decision, the Planning Inspector said: ‘I consider that the adverse impacts of granting planning permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.’

The decision letter from the Planning Inspector may be viewed in full on the Council’s website here.

ENDS