TWO controversial infill housing developments could bring another 36 new homes to Eastfield Lane, Ringwood, this year.

Ringwood Town Council is expecting a flood of objections from people living in the road, which is used as a rat-run between the A31 at Poulner and the industrial estates south of the town centre.

The larger of the two proposed housing schemes comes from Antler Homes Wessex Ltd and involves demolishing three properties and building 31 new homes. The development would also take in part of the back gardens of four properties.

Plans show a mixture of housing at the site. There would be seven detached houses, two pairs of semi-detached houses, two terraces of four houses, a terrace of three, one block of seven flats and two flats with garages below them. The entrance to the site will be opposite number 82 Eastfield Lane.

The other development is nearby on the opposite side of the road on the corner of Cloughs Road.

Submitted by local architects Sheerin, Bettle and Associates on behalf of William and Violet Tanner, who live in Eastfield Lane, the plans show the demolition of their L-shaped 1930s bungalow and its replacement with a terrace of three houses and a pair of semi-detached houses.

Another application for a larger number of homes on the plot was refused by New Forest District Council in June.

The architects point out that the area has already been the subject of other infill developments including one of four terraced homes on the opposite corner which "have been used as the basis for reaching a brief for this site".

They also say "there is a substantial need within the local area for low-cost and starter homes and this site allows a small group of properties to be inserted into this established residential area".

Town council planning committee members are due to discuss the plans on Friday, but that could be deferred to allow all comments to be sent in and taken into consideration, said deputy clerk Jo Stannard.

  • Agricultural land between Nouale Lane and Eastfield Lane has not been identified as development land, but the town council has called for plans for a relief road between the A31 and the industrial estates to be re-introduced into the local planning strategy.