The development proposal
Our Aspiration
Our aim is to contribute to place-making at Funtley. This aspiration is broad and includes the natural environment, social opportunities as well as development.
The principle of development on this site has already been established, outline planning permission having been granted for 125 homes on this land, and a community park (which has the benefit of a separate, but linked, planning permission).
The scheme takes its lead from villages in the surrounding Meon Valley, where development fronts roads and rivers/streams. The proposed scheme is then broken into several character areas, to reflect the varying features on the site. Two large linear parks have been designed to physically and visually link the development from Funtley Road to the rising land to the south.
The Development Explained
1. Country Park Zone
The smaller parcels along the development’s southern boundary formed of lower density homes and also lower in height i.e. 1 and a 1/2-storey homes. In accordance with the outline planning permission vision, this blends the new homes into the surrounding environment. The homes both look out southwards onto the new country park and also onto the new footpath/cycle link, woodland and new linear parks running north-south through the development. Together this area delivers a harmonious transition of the open space to the south and the new neighbourhood to the north.
This area also includes the Locally Equipped Area of Play (LEAP) and car parking for the new country park.
2. Funtley Road zone
As with the outline vision, this detailed layout delivers the East Meon design. As with the Meon area, the homes front Funtley Road, set behind generous landscaping, pedestrian routes and a linear water feature. This presents the village street scene and ties the scheme into the existing fabric of Funtley Road and the village of Funtley.
3. The Village Green zone
The village green zone marks a central point between existing and proposed development. Grouped around an important existing tree and new pond, the community building will be visible from Funtley Road.
Together with its car park it will be a valuable asset for the whole community. This zone also includes a small cluster of new homes and is framed to the south by the existing woodland.
4. Linear Park Zones
Two new linear parks are proposed running broadly north-south through the development. These follow the historic hedgerows on the former fields. The western park terminates at a natural green feature, including trees, and the eastern park terminates at the LEAP.
Both parks include linear water features and are overlooked by the new homes.
Proposal Summary
Key highlights of the plans
• The layout presents a scheme of up to 125 homes, 40% of which are affordable
• Six of the homes will be delivered as self-build plots
• Homes draw on the distinctive character of Funtley and take reference from local Meon Valley architectural and building elements
• The scheme includes a new landscape of woodland, wetlands and meadows and will to connect existing ancient woodlands, providing an attractive leisure and biodiversity resource and also contain the proposed development. This will contribute to water attenuation, flood resilience, as well as reducing carbon dioxide
• Access to the ancient woodland will be prevented to allow the wood to thrive
• The project includes a new community building/local shop serving the proposed development and Funtley Village. At this stage, only the location of the facility is being consulted on, with the detail of the building to follow at a later date (we will specifically engage with the community on this)
• Biodiversity will be substantially enriched
• Attenuation basins will protect against flooding
In addition, but not part of this reserved matters application:
• The previous scheme to the north has already forward funded a new footpath/cycleway and M27 bridge improvements, linking Funtley with north Fareham. However, the existing section through the ancient woodland will be diverted to the west of the woodland. The whole footpath will become a formal public right of way
• A new community park will provide a substantial increase in public open space for the residents of Funtley, as well as those living in Fareham North where it has been identified that there is a deficit of open space. This has the benefit of a separate detailed planning permission