New plan to build houses beside Pear Tree Inn at Botley

Dorrington Homes (UK) Ltd wants to construct six three-bedroom properties beside the Pear Tree Inn, which is surrounded by sites that have already been developed.

The land hosts play equipment used by children when their parents visit the popular pub in Winchester Road, Botley.

A previous proposal to provide housing on the site was withdrawn at the end of last year after sparking more than 100 objections.

Now, Dorrington has submitted a revised scheme that aims to address the concerns that were raised by Eastleigh Borough Council.

The site is not owned by the pub but includes a climbing frame used by families using the popular watering hole (Image: Google/Wessex Planning)

Paul Holmes, Conservative MP for Hamble Valley, described the move as "very disappointing" and vowed to lodge an objection.

Posting on social media, he said: "Local councillors made promises before the last local elections to protect this land and I believe it is against the adopted Eastleigh Local Plan.

"I’ll oppose this to stop our last section of green space being built on. The land was protected as an Asset of Community Value. However, Lib Dem Eastleigh Council have refused to renew this."

READ MORE: Plan to build six homes beside Pear Tree pub at Botley sparks more than 100 objections

A design statement that accompanies the application says the land does not belong to the Pear Tree and is not the pub's garden.

It also says the landowner has allowed a climbing frame to be placed on the site but could withdraw permission at any time.

The statement adds: "There is space to move the play equipment into the pub's garden, and therefore development of this site would not threaten the pub's viability."

The application to build houses beside the Pear Tree pub will be decided by Eastleigh Borough Council (Image: Newsquest)

Dorrington wants to develop a rectangular piece of land opposite the junction of Winchester Road and Maddoxford Lane.

"The changing context of the site is very important to the consideration of this proposal," says the statement.

"The major developments of Boorley Green and Boorley Gardens are well underway, permitting thousands of homes around the site, entirely changing the character of this former rural area.

"As a result of this significant change in character, several small housing developments have been permitted by the council.

"Such permissions have incrementally broken this 'finger of the countryside' designation, to all intents and purposes altering it to an infill urban area.

"It would be inconsistent for the local planning authority to resist development on a small patch of undeveloped land which is surrounded by development on all sides."