The site and planning history

ABOUT

The site is located on Funtley Road and is enclosed within a triangle of land bounded by the M27 to the south, the railway line to the east and a disused railway spur, known as the ‘Deviation Line’ to the west, which is now a bridleway.

Funtley village is located to the north of Funtley Road and to the east of the railway line, and Fareham is to the south of the M27. Land to the west is small scale, well wooded agricultural land within the relatively intact landscape of the Meon Valley whose river dissects the chalk escarpment of the South Downs.

To the east and north east are larger scale agricultural fields, beyond Funtley village, earmarked for 6000+ homes and a new village of Welborne. The Welborne development is a strategic allocation within the adopted local plan, which is at an early stage, having only just commenced development for the initial phase.

The land immediately to the north of Funtley Road was predominately developed in the 1990s for medium density residential development on a site which was historically brickworks, clay pits and an abattoir, albeit there is also the more recent North Funtley development for 27 homes. The site has a history of agricultural use with a number of fields, once enclosed by hedgerows and extensive coppice woodland. Much is now developed and also includes Funtley Meadow.

The triangle of land that forms the immediate context is highly enclosed and isolated from surrounding areas. These include:
• The M27 over the brow of the hill to the south, although hidden from view
• The railway cutting to the east (the road passes over a bridge to reach Funtley village) – the railway is not visible due to woodland in the east of the site and along the railway
• The Deviation Line to the west, which is now a bridleway within a heavily wooded embankment

Reside gained outline planning permission for 27 new homes on the small parcel of land north of Funtley Road in 2018. This was built out by Vivid Homes and is now completed.

Reside also achieved an outline planning permission for 125 homes on this site, land south of Funtley Road in 2022, and this consultation is seeking your views on the proposed detailed scheme (reserved matters), which includes its appearance, landscaping, layout and scale.

Fareham Borough Local Plan

Fareham Local Plan 2037 was recently adopted (April 2023). The local plan allocates this 4.55 ha site at the Funtley South under policy HA10 for 125 new homes.

The allocation requires primary access to be from Funtley Road with safe pedestrian connections across Funtley Road, to existing housing and also connections to the existing footpath and bridleway network in the area and to Funtley village.

It is also requires connection both functionally, and visually to the open space allocation to the south. On-site woodland is to be retained and a 15m buffer maintained around Beamond Coppice woodland SINC (Site of Importance for Nature Conservation).

The proposal is expected to provide building/buildings for community use, both for the existing and new community and to provide directly or through contributions to off-site highway improvements, local schools and early years childcare, public open space, on or off-site and an on-site LEAP (Local Equipped Area of Play).

Summary

The adopted Fareham Borough Council (FBC) Local Plan allocates HA10 south of Funtley Road for 125 new homes and open space.
Fareham North West Ward (south of M27) has some of the highest deprivation in the Borough and shortages of all types of accessible open space.
Community and indoor sports facilities are adequate across the Borough, although aged.
Better connections to the Meon Valley will help address some of the open space deficiencies and could provide a link in the Meon Valley trail.
FBC are seeking net gains in biodiversity through development.