Council planning chiefs have given the green light to the look of 57 new homes and the diversion of two public footpaths through the new estate in Titchfield.

Fareham Borough Council’s planning committee approved the final elements of the 57-home scheme on horse grazing land south of Bellfield.

It approved the appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of the development for the homes, internal roads, parking, landscaping, bird conservation and re-routing of the two public footpaths. An existing play area will get spruced up instead of building a separate one next to Cummings Park with £70,000 secured from the developers, Foreman Homes Ltd.

There will also be an additional contribution of £38,000 for the play area maintenance.

The plans were brought in front of the committee because 23 different households raised 25 objections. In addition, comments from The Fareham Society, Titchfield Village Trust, Hampshire Swifts, Meon Ramblers and the Hampshire Ramblers Association were received. 

The objectors raised concerns including surface water drainage impact, impact on the strategic gap, loss of wildlife to increased light pollution in the countryside.

Councillor Joanne Burton (Con, Sarisbury and Whiteley) liked the play area which will have new equipment including play boulders, a play tower, stepping logs, a spinning spica and wild lilies for sitting on.

There will also be bins, and benches and it is next to Cummings Park which serves Bellfield estate residents.

The site includes 35 private and 22 affordable homes, a mixture of property styles and types including one-bed flats, and a mix of two-, three- and four-bedroom houses and flats.

All buildings are two storeys, with a number of single-storey car barns and garages.

There is a large communal garden area for the flats and off-street car parking.

Councillor Gemma Furnivall (Lab, Fort Fareham) said: “I am happy with the distribution of affordable houses within the site.”

The council officer said the scheme has been significantly amended since its original submission in February 2023, and the layout now ensures the development is outward-looking. 

Council members asked about the 25 trees that were to be planted and asked to ensure they were not going to find the committee in years to come being asked to chop them down again.

The council officer said they are not oak and are all 2.5 and 3m high trees.