Redrow Riverside Site

Jan 11 2012 - NFDC DCC votes 10:6 in favour of new application

Dec 8th - Redrow Application does not get approval of Town Council

The latest proposal for 168 houses and flats, designed by Bryan Avery, was not approved by the Town Council, so they are recommending rejection to the Planning Committee of the District Council, when it comes before them on January 11th.

If you feel strongly either for or against the current proposal, please make your feelings known to the planning committee via the NFDC website by clicking HERE

It is the committee's feeling that the current proposal is a great improvement on previous plans, and is unlikely to be bettered.

Nov 8th - Lymington Society members get early view of new design

On November 8th, the Society's social event was a talk by Bryan Avery about his childhood in Lymington and its effect on his work
Bryan was chosen my Redrow as the architect for the riverside development, after a recommendation from the Society that he should be invited to contribute a proposal. The second half of his talk was a detailed description of his ideas for the site. CLICK HERE for further details.

APRIL 3rd - Public Meeting

The Lymington Society public meeting on April 3rd was a great success.

Click HERE for the Society's summary to the press

Click HERE for a summary of questions and comments from the floor

Redrow took the opportunity of the Public Meeting to reveal a new proposal for a lower density development, with a total of 150 flats and houses. In order for this development to be financially viable, they are unable to support more than 20% affordable housing. The lower density was well received by the members of the public at the meeting. However, concern continues about the traffic that will be added to an already stressed road system, and the reduction in affordable housing. Chris Elliott, on behalf of NFDC planning, said that the reduction in affordable housing might be considered, if the proposal as a whole is genuinely welcomed by the Lymington community. Redrow proposed a working group with representatives from themselves, planning and the wider community to refine the proposal. Suggestions from the floor indicated a strong level of local interest for taking part in this exercise.

Feb 9th 2011 - Redrow Application is open on the NFDC website

The Society has objected to the application on the grounds of excessive height and density, lack of sympathy with the New Forest National Park, and deviation from the local area under Local Distinctiveness. The society's objection can be seem HERE. If you wish to comment on the application, the link to planning application number 96490 is HERE. The documents tab at the top of this page gives access to the planning documents. To comment you need to click on "Submit a Public Online Comment" at the bottom of the page. Please do comment if you are concerned about this development. Numbers do count, and it really is not difficult. For more detailed advice to members please see HERE:

February 22, Society Chairman Clive Sutton wrote a Letter to the editor of the Lymington Times, see HERE

February 5th 2011, The Society is quoted in the Lymington Times:

"The sheer density of the scheme, its height and its building style, are all at odds with the Georgian nature of the town and discordant with the look and feel of Lymington.

The need to raise the development for flood protection has meant that the development is now exceptionally high overall and will come to dominate the views both of the town from the National Park to the east and from the town looking out. The overall mass and density of the development is now nearly back to the original Paxton's scheme and is likely to overshadow the town and irrevocably alter the style and feel and of Lymington forever."

August 9th 2010:
The Society has been an active participant in the planning process for this site for many years. This letter from Clive Sutton to the Lymington Times sets out the history of the project, and our opinion about the latest proposals

See www.lymingtons-last-shore.co.uk for a local opinion about the proposed development

Plain English Guide to the Localism Bill

a briefing note from the Local Government Association, describing the new localism bill, which promises to increase the power and influence of local councils over planning matters.

Local Distinctiveness

Local Distinctiveness is the new keyword in planning circles. It allows planning committees to take account of local characteristics that are worthy of preservation. The Lymington Society is taking an active role in this work.
See the Planning pages

Contact New Forest District Councillors

The NFDC website has new pages for each of the Councillors. Click HERE to access the site.

Greenfield Site Development

NEW Jan 2012

‘Sites and Development Management Development Plan Document On 20 January 2012 the District Council will publish for a six week Representation period, the proposed Submission Document of the Sites and Development Management Development Plan Document. This follows a six week public consultation that took place in January to March 2011. The Sites and Development Management DPD will set out the detailed proposals and policies required to implement the planning strategy for the area agreed through the Core Strategy (adopted in 2009). The Plan will include the allocation of a limited amount of greenfield land for new development required to meet the local need for additional housing, affordable housing and employment land. It will also provide additional development management policies to assist the implementation of the Core Strategy.’

Between 2006 - 2026, the overall South East Plan requires 3,920 additional dwellings. As part of the Sites & Development Management plan the Council is looking at sites that could provide up to around 150 of these dwellings in Lymington & Pennington. The Council has acknowledged LymSoc's input to their consultation and confirmed that they will take account of our comments. The deadline for comments has now expired but they say that they'll notify us "towards the end of 2011", of a further "six week period during which formal representations about the Plan may be made"

Links: NFDC Local Development Framework Core Strategy

NFDC Sites and Development Management Development Plan Document

Further information: NFDC Policy and Plans Team
e-mail: louise.evans@nfdc.gov.uk
tel.: 023 80285359.

Current major concerns

The major current concerns of the Lymington Society are:

• Destruction of Lymington from Over Development

• Future development of the former Webb's Country Foods site in Bridge Rd Lymington, now owned by Redrow

• New Larger Ferries