The Site

The Site

The site is located in the parish of Beech and adjacent to the settlement boundary of Alton. It lies directly to the south of the A339 (Basingstoke Road) and Pertius Avenue/Whitedown Lane and is bounded by Ackender Wood to the south, residential development to the east and agricultural land to the west.

Several local amenities are located within walking and cycling distance of the site, including Alton Railway station, shops, schools, sports facilities and the town centre itself.

Planning context

The site forms a draft allocation (ALT4 – Land at Whitedown Lane Alton) within the emerging East Hampshire Local Plan (2021-2040) for residential uses.

The delivery of sustainable sites such as the proposed is therefore necessary in order to provide well-designed houses that meet local needs and help meet housing targets. This site provides the opportunity to deliver these objectives whilst maintaining the distinct identity of the settlements of Beech and Alton respectively.

Benefits

The proposals would deliver a sustainable, accessible and well-connected new development featuring 99 new homes and providing the following benefits:

A range of housing types including 40% affordable provision across a mix of 1,2,3,4 and 5 bed homes to meet a variety of local needs.

All electric homes targeting Future Homes Standard and integrated sustainable features.

New pedestrian and cycle routes, including links to Alton town centre.

Integration with the character of the local area, through the use local materials and design details.

A new vehicular access from the A339 Basingstoke Road

Financial contributions towards local community infrastructure through S106 funding and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

The enhancement of the settlement gap between Beech and Alton and of existing landscape features including areas of green open space and the provision of play areas.

The Proposals

We are seeking detailed planning permission for the delivery of 99 new homes alongside public realm enhancements.

Layout plan

(Click to enlarge)

New Homes

The proposals would deliver 99 new homes, including 40% affordable, across a variety of house types to meet a range of needs.

This will include one to five bedroom homes and apartments to accommodate locals in all phases of life, including those wishing to downsize or purchase their first home. The new homes will be built to a maximum height of two storeys across the site.

The houses and gardens backing onto Pertuis Avenue will be built to the same height as the houses opposite.

Illustrative housing type by Croudace Homes 

Material palette

Houses and apartments will be built using materials that reflect the character of the local area. This will include traditional brick, tile hanging, boarding and flint elevation under plain tile or slate roofing.  

Sustainability

All new homes will be built to high sustainability standards, targeting the Future Homes Standard (FHS) which will become mandatory from 2025.

The FHS is designed to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The ultimate goal is to help the UK reach its national net zero target.  

The scheme will consider Climate Change and Sustainable Construction SPD (2023) and passive design measures.

EV charging

Further sustainability measures that will be integrated into the scheme include;

  • All-electric homes with no fossil fuels

  • Electric Vehicle charging point for every new home

  • Inclusion of Solar PV for low carbon energy

Enhancing the settlement gap between Alton and Beech

The landscape proposals seek to ensure that the settlement gap between Alton and Beech is retained and the rural character of the site is protected.

To safeguard the wider landscape to the west of the site, a green landscaped buffer will be introduced to ensure that the new homes are suitably screened. Development will be set back along this boundary to reinforce the settlement gap.

A landscape buffer will also be introduced along the northern site boundary between the new and existing homes fronting Pertuis Avenue and Whitedown Lane, in order to protect the privacy of existing residents.

Landscaping example from a recent Croudace Homes development

Landscaping example from a recent Croudace Homes development

Public open space

The proposals will deliver green open space across the site. This will include a central green featuring a play area for older children and a smaller play area located to the east of the site targeted at younger children. An additional green will be located to the west of the site, as illustrated by the layout plan.

Biodiversity

The proposals will deliver an overall 10% Biodiversity Net Gain in line with EHDC policy. A strategic green corridor is proposed to the west of the site which will boost habitat connectivity between off-site woodlands, including the designated Ancient Woodland to the south, and the majority of existing hedgerows and supplemented by additional hedgerows to support wildlife.

Sustainable Drainage

A series of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) including attenuation ponds will be incorporated as well as rain gardens and soakaways.

These will be designed to discharge to groundwater by infiltration and to accommodate the potential impacts of climate change in accordance with Environment Agency and Lead Local Flood Authority requirement.

Illustrative attenuation pond from The Brooks, Burghfield Common, by Croudace Homes

Highways and Access

Encouraging active travel methods

The site will be accessible by car, public transport, cycling and on foot. A new vehicular access will be provided via a T-junction from the A339, alongside designated pedestrian crossing facilities.

In order to provide connections to Alton town centre, a widened pedestrian and cycle crossing over Pertuis Avenue is proposed. A pedestrian island refuge crossing is also proposed over Basingstoke Road to connect to the footway on the northern side of the Basingstoke Road carriageway.

A shared route for pedestrians and cyclists will be provided between the site and Pertuis Avenue, improving the existing crossing facilities that provide access to the Bridleway which runs along the southern boundary of the site.

This east to west linkage will provide enhanced foot and cycle connectivity between Alton town centre and the site as well as improved access to the Rights of Way Network around the town.

Parking

Parking will be provided in line with the adopted East Hampshire District Council parking standards and also with reference to the Alton Neighbourhood Plan standards in respect to visitor parking.