Waterfront Business Park

At the Council’s Planning Committee held last night (Wednesday) a report was considered relating to the Waterfront Business Park by Fleet railway station.

Last February the Council refused planning permission for the redevelopment of the site for 206 dwellings, for a number of reasons, including the loss of the site for employment purposes. An appeal has been lodged against this decision to the Secretary of State and an inquiry is due to commence on 6 January at the Civic Offices in Fleet.

The Council also refused planning permission on the basis that inadequate community infrastructure had been provided on site and for the new residents.

The Council will vigorously defend the decision to refuse planning permission. However, the Council needs to ensure that should Secretary of State decide to grant planning permission the correct infrastructure is provided.

The report considered last night dealt with only the community infrastructure elements of the matter, largely concerning Leisure facilities. The financial elements were dealt with by Cabinet last week.

These decisions took into account the representations made to the Council during the application process.

Any person or local body who wishes to make representations on any part of the Waterfront development, be that the principle of the residential development of the site, the layout, or the community infrastructure which they consider might be necessary if the appeal were to be allowed, is welcome to attend the Public Inquiry to give their views to the Planning Inspector.