Another Group forms over Manor Road Development

A group of residents local to Manor Road in Milford on Sea, have come together to form an additional group focussed on engaging with NFDC and local councillors to discuss the proposed new development of 190 houses north of Manor Road.

The group are called; 'Milford Residents for Sustainable Development', and are working closely with the SLAM (School Lane and Manor Road) group to try to ensure what they consider the best outcome for the village.

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PRESS RELEASE

Milford Residents for Sustainable Development

Milford Residents, We need you!!

The majority of Milford residents may be aware of the plans by New Forest District Council (NFDC) relating to building additional homes across the New Forest. These plans are captured in the NFDC Local Plan. 

Currently there is a huge development in underway in Fordingbridge, significant building projects planned for Hordle and a number of larger (20+) developments being proposed in Everton. 

For Milford on Sea, following the development of 40+ houses in an area now known as The Swifts close to the school, the fields in Manor Road have been designated as land for housing development. Earlier this year an outline planning proposal was submitted in relation to building 190 dwellings across the fields in Manor Road. The link to the planning proposal is here: 23/10476.

Following its submission, there have been 247 objections raised to the development and this planning proposal goes to the planning committee in Autumn 2023. The link appears to be still be open for additional comments to be added.

This proposal is the single biggest thing to happen to Milford on Sea for over 50 years in terms of increased density and capacity to the village. It will have a significant impact on Milford’s already stretched resources. There has to be a recognition that development on this site is inevitable but at this scale it would be disastrous. (The Local plan mentioned above identifies the Manor Road site suitable for 110 houses). As a result, a group of residents local to Manor Road have come together to form a group focussed on engaging with NFDC and local councillors to engage and discuss the proposed development.

We are calling ourselves Milford Residents for Sustainable Development. The group has already met our local elected councillors from NFDC and will be meeting with the planning officer for this proposal. Our intent is to engage, discuss, raise questions and share concerns. The group is also working closely with the SLAM group to ensure the best outcome for the village.

To all residents of Milford, your involvement is critical. We want you! - If you would like to get involved then please contact milford.residents@outlook.com. Everyone is welcome.

The key concerns relating to the development are as follows listed in no particular order:

1. Access. The proposed development will create 3 additional access points onto Manor Road. Traffic issues are already well known and were highlighted in the local plan from the early 2000’s. Parked cars create a single lane all day and represents a danger to children walking to and from school.

2. Poor quality consultation and lack of subsequent response to their proposals.

3. Environmental impact and damage. This development will lower the water table, will damage to the veteran Oak trees that line Manor Road through root damage by heavy construction vehicles. The sheer volume of housing will create a negative impact on the wildlife corridor that exists around Lymington Road, Manor Road and Barnes Lane.

4. Density. This development will significantly create an increase in population density

5. Traffic. Potential for a few hundred cars to be added into local area on already busy roads.

6. Concerns relating quality of design and layout. The local plan states very clearly that new developments must be kept in keeping with local character and retain the characteristics of the New forest area. The currently published designs do not adhere to this requirement.

7.Milford housing requirements. Within the plan, the site was designated for 110 houses which is in line for the current need for the village in terms of affordable housing but this proposal is in massively excess of that requirement.

8. Impact on local infrastructure and services. We already know the school is full and the GP surgery is at capacity. The roads are already busy and will only get busier.

9. House Purchases. If there is a failure to prevent new homes being sold as second homes and as buy to let investments then the local housing issues do not get addressed.

10. Failure to provide the lower cost housing. If the new houses are not affordable then what is the point? We know through the building of the Swifts that the developer reneged on their Affordable housing commitment once the planning proposal was approved.

For more information, please contact, Milford Residents for Sustainable Development on: milford.residents@outlook.com