Press Release 22.03.2011
Lymington Society Calls Public Meeting
over
Redrow
Plan for the Webbs Chicken factory site.
The Lymington Society
has today announced that it is calling a Public Meeting over the controversial
plans announced by Redrow for the development of the Bridge Road site in
Lymington - better locally know as the “Webbs Chicken Factory”.
This is the second
Public Meeting held by the Society concerning this unique riverside site in
the heart of Lymington. The original Public Meeting was held over five years
ago on the proposals of the site owners at the time Paxton Holdings. Public
opinion was firmly against the density of the development and the lack of
family-friendly facilities.
Paxton Holdings
eventually received planning permission for a large development of over 300
flats together with a hotel, live-work units and a restaurant. Despite opposition
from the Town Council and the Society, Paxton were then additionally given
permission to build a care home instead of the hotel
following an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.
The Lymington Society
had been actively involved in the original development of the Supplementary
Planning Guidance by the New Forest District Council in order to achieve a
desirable mix of uses on the site. However many of the hoped-for gains on
the site failed to materialise and the Society eventually opposed the extremely
dense development which was finally proposed by Paxton.
Unfortunately operating
under the infamous PPG3 planning guidance from John Prescott’s “Office of
the Deputy Prime Minister”, the NFDC felt they had to give permission for
this very large development.
The site was then
purchased by Redrow. The Society has again been involved actively in discussions
with Redrow and the New Forest District Council about a new scheme for this
site.
Some of the concepts
proposed by Redrow for this fantastic site have been supported by Society.
These include the feature bridge over the railway line and actively connecting
the site into the town centre, which the Society had previously urged Paxtons
to consider. The initial lower density
proposed was also considered a step forward.
However despite
the appointment of a highly respected architect for the site, the style of
building originally proposed was widely considered extremely unsatisfactory
following a Consultation Exercise held by Redrow at the Lymington Community
Centre.
Since then Redrow have responded with an alternative scheme involving pitched
roofs instead of the flat roofs of their first plans.
However, they have increased the density of their proposals from their
original plan for 280 dwellings to more than 300, mainly one and two bedroomed
apartments. Whilst the buildings on the waterside are slightly lower, the
central section has increased in height to a full five storeys with pitched
roofs on top of that.
Speaking today Don Mackenzie Press Spokesman
for the Lymington Society said:
“The
Webb's site in Lymington is truly one of the most wonderful riverside development
sites anywhere in the country and it is vital that every effort is made to
get the right scheme for this unique site.
Due
to the pressure on local authorities from the last government to approve ever
denser developments, we are now saddled with a highly unsatisfactory situation
where planning permission has been given for a very dense development which
many people feel is unsuitable for this site.
Following
extensive consultation for which they are to be congratulated, Redrow have
now applied for permission for a revised development, some features of which
are a step in the right direction.
However,
their latest proposals now match Paxton’s in terms of density. The style of
buildings and their height – five storeys and above in some places - are widely
considered out of keeping with Lymington.
In
order to allow the wider community to hear in more detail what Redrow are
planning on the site and to allow them to express their opinion on this development,
the Lymington Society is now again organising a Public Meeting which we hope
will be helpful to the debate over this wonderful site.
Representatives
of the New Forest District Council and Redrow will be present to answer questions
from the public at the meeting.
All members of the public are very welcome to attend. The meeting will
take place at Lymington Community Centre, Cannon Street on Monday 4th April at 7.00
p.m. chaired by Lymington Society Chairman Clive Sutton. See Redrow’s Planning Application 96490 at the
Town Hall, Avenue Road or at: http://www.lymsoc.co.uk/.
Ends.
