Midanbury Lane: Decision on 84 new homes behind St Marys College

The proposals by Sovereign Network Group would see the homes built on the land to the rear of the former St Mary's Independent School in Midanbury Lane, Southampton.

The school shut in 2020 and was replaced with a new special educational needs school, Yarrow Heights.

The land is described in the plans as "low quality and not publicly accessible".

The scheme would include eight one-bed apartments, 24 two-bed apartments and 27 two-bed houses, as well as 22 three-bed houses and three four-bed houses.

Planning panel councillors will decide on whether to approve or refuse the plans on March 12.

Former school playground could be turned into 84 new homes (Image: Sovereign Housing/SCC Planning Portal.)

The application was initially submitted with a proposed off-site contribution of £230,000 towards the Council's Sports Centre project to mitigate against the loss of the field.

READ MORE: Former school playground could be turned into 84 new homes

However following further negotiation and input from stakeholders, the offer has been amended and now proposed £613,000 towards Riverside Park, a new cricket pitch and renovation of the existing changing rooms at Bitterne Park Pavilion.

A total of 29 of the homes provided would be affordable housing, which makes up 35 per cent of the project.

Some 162 parking spaces would also be provided, and according to Southampton City Council “15% of spaces should be provided as active spaces (fully installed and ready to be used) and the rest should be 100% passive (infrastructure installed to allow future charge points to be installed easily).”

Former school playground could be turned into 84 new homes (Image: Sovereign Housing/SCC planning portal.)

The application has attracted a series of objections from residents as well as then-councillours.

Former councillor Ivan White said: “Currently the site causes problems with water and drainage from the area has been a long-standing local issue and has the potential for exacerbating the problem by building on the site limiting natural drainage.

“The addition of significant properties will place pressure on the local infrastructure particularly schools and health services.

“The loss of open space both from exercising/sport and an area for nature is worrying and once lost cannot be replaced.”

Another former councillor, David Fuller, said: “This development will lead to in excess of 150 additional vehicles (most likely nearer 200) using local roads.

“Many of these movements will take place at busy times of day, particularly school drop-off times when additional traffic is already on these roads.

“The residential nature of the local roads means they are not designed for heavy traffic use and this new development will only make problems worse.”