Hilliers submits plans for new homes and business centre near Romsey

Hillier Nurseries and its partner Highwood Group wants to build 245 new homes, a net-zero business centre, bio-diverse public open spaces and improved travel infrastructure on land at its Brentry site in Jermyns Lane.

The site is not included for housing in the local plan and so is likely to be controversial.

George Hillier, chairman of Hillier Nurseries, said that if the plans are approved it will create new jobs and deliver further economic prosperity to the town.

He said: “We are striving to continue investment in our business. We want to ensure its long-term future without moving away from our local community or The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, both of which are a significant part of our history.

"We have always been a business that has moved with the times, recognised the importance of sustainability and modernisation and I want us to continue with that ethos with this next step.

The existing buildings at the Brentry site (Image: Hillier Nurseries) “This joint development with Highwood not only delivers new homes where needed on previously developed land, it also enables us to take the next steps in our business’s sustainability journey towards our commitment to net zero by 2040, or sooner if possible. This is at least ten years ahead of the Government’s target of 2050.”

The application covers three areas of development. This includes removing the existing infrastructure at the Brentry site and replacing it with a new storage and distribution unit constructed with additional office facilities.

The surplus nursery land is to be redeveloped will also include 98 affordable homes.

Extensive infrastructure works have also been proposed, including pedestrian and cycle links to Ganger Farm, landscaping and public open spaces, parking and environmental improvements.

Simon Beech, land and sales director at the Highwood Group, said: “Our partnership with Hillier and proposals for Brentry offer an outstanding opportunity. The proposals will allow Hillier, which has been a cornerstone of the community for over 160 years, to remain a sustainable local business for generations to come.

“Additionally, by going further and creating a distinctive and very considered housing development of beautiful new homes and attractive open spaces on this exceptional landscape, we’re ensuring its new residents, employees and visitors can enjoy a very high quality of life and local economic prosperity for the decades ahead.”

Romsey is coming under extreme pressure from developers.  It comes on the heels of Gladman Developments lodging an appeal with TVBC to reconsider rejected plans for 270 homes around Halterworth Primary School.

Technically the Hillier plan is in countryside and not earmarked for development. It said: "Located on previously developed land on the edge of Romsey, the largest and most sustainable settlement in southern Test Valley, the Hillier proposals are brought forward in line with the new Government’s key mandates to drive economic growth, boost productivity, and deliver 1.5 million new homes to tackle the national housing crisis this parliament. The proposals are a unique opportunity to support these goals alongside those in Test Valley’s emerging local plan through delivery of essential modern business facilities for Hillier, the need for which is urgent – enabled by 245 much needed new homes, on what is an existing brownfield site in a sustainable location."    

The Labour government's new housing targets means that Test Valley is without a defensible local plan, opening the way for speculative applications. Borough councillor John Parker issued a warning: “Until TVBC can get a new Local Plan in place which allocates sufficient land then applications to develop in the countryside will, in all probability, be granted on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate.

The Brentry Site and its surroundings (Image: Hillier Nurseries)“I have just been advised that Gladman Developments have taken advantage of this opportunity and lodged an appeal against TVBC's refusal of their planning application.

“This may be the first of many.”

Cllr Mark Cooper previously said that TVBC needs time to update its local plan to prepare for the additional housing. The current plan which would run to 2040 is a late stage of consultation.

He said: “We are very worried. The problem we have is that Romsey is a very popular area for people to want to live and there is a lot of pressure for additional housing.

“What we are trying to do is retain control of housing allocation sites by democratically-elected councillors and planning officers and not leave it to developers to come pouring in making speculative planning applications which may get granted by the Planning Inspectorate on appeal.”