Updated plans submitted in October 2025. What’s new?

The proposals are for up to 200 Net Zero Carbon Ready homes of which 35% (70) would be affordable homes, provided alongside new open space with allotments and orchards, new trees and landscaping and biodiversity enhancements south of Rollestone Road in Holbury. In October 2025, updated plans were submitted to New Forest District Council. The main changes made to the proposed development include:

• Adjustment to the housing layout in the northeast corner of the housing area to move the dwellings away from potential surface water flooding zones.
• To reduce the impact of the Proposed Development on the setting of the National Park, the western-most parcel of housing has been removed and the homes redistributed within the wider housing area.
• The former western parcel of housing now comprises one large Multi-Use Play Area that includes two Locally Equipped Area of Play (LEAPs) and three Local Area of Play (LAPs) distributed according to accessibility distances.
• The southwestern area of housing has been moved further away from heathland.
• Revisions to illustrative internal housing layout to re-distribute affordable homes more evenly across the site. At the suggestion of NFDC Case Officers, the affordable dwelling mix has been adjusted including removal of Flats over Garages (FOGS) and the provision of more amenity space around flats.
• In response to consultation with Fawley Parish Council, a fenced dog walking area is proposed in the north-east corner of the application site.
• The provision of a car parking area at the eastern end of the northern public open space corridor to enable access to the allotments and dog walking area. Landscape planting is included to integrate this into the surrounding proposed open spaces.
• Opportunity space included for an informal kick about area on eastern side of the proposed housing area. This is set within a context of tree planting and shade tolerant meadow grassland.
• The provision of a 3m footway/cycleway in an east to west direction across the northern part of the site.
• The removal of woodland planting from the eastern side of the Site which is replaced with tree groups in shade tolerant wildflower meadows.
• Minor adjustments to paths allowing access for pedestrians around the public open space.
• The boardwalk to the proposed dog pond in the ANRG, in the south-eastern corner of the Site has been simplified.
• Sustainable Drainage Basins (SuDS) revised in response to updated flood mapping including some re-profiling to move them away from the dwellings along the southern boundary with the Alternative Natural Recreation Greenspace (ANRG).

Design principles

We have carried out detailed technical work and assessment of the site in forming these proposals to ensure the development is deliverable. The project team has taken a landscape-led approach for the site. This means that the proposals have been designed with the aim to create an attractive and functional development that has minimal visual impact from the outside, protects nature for future generations, respects the setting of the New Forest National Park and improves on-site biodiversity. The 46 acres of greenspace would be accessible to future and existing residents alike.

Views from the outside would be limited by retaining existing hedgerows and mature trees, adding up to 600 trees across the site and filling gaps in existing hedgerows by planting new native plant species. Creating new woodland would also enhance biodiversity, complemented with species-rich wildflower meadows and ponds. Replicating New Forest habitats with scrubs and woodland would encourage local people to walk in the newly created greenspace rather than in the protected sites in the National Park.

The design is built around social inclusion, healthy lifestyles and wellbeing. A number of pedestrian and cycle links run through the site which have several logical access points that connect well to the local network. The residential area would be providing a mix of homes which respond to local need, with lower heights and density on the southern and western side where the site adjoins the New Forest National Park boundary. In accordance with the climate and nature emergency declared by New Forest District Council, Wates is proposing a sustainable development, using technologies such as solar panels and air source heat pumps, alongside travel initiatives such as a car club and Electric Vehicle charging points.

Planning application

The hybrid planning application comprises the following elements:

• Outline application for the demolition of two residential bungalows and existing farm buildings, the construction of up to 200 homes (including affordable homes) and the creation of a primary new vehicular access onto Rollestone Road (with layout, scale, appearance and landscaping left as reserved matters)
• Full (detailed) application for the provision of public open space and an Area of Natural Recreational Greenspace (ANRG) and the creation of a new pedestrian access onto Rollestone Road

The submitted documentation is available for public viewing on the Council’s planning portal at https://planning.newforest.gov.uk/online-applications/ under planning reference number 24/11132.