EHDC W&B3

Part d - Chapter twelve - site allocations

W&B3 – BOSC Residential Expansion LAA Reference Site Size (Ha) Existing Use Proposed Future Use Proposed Number of Homes

WHI-034 1.2 ha Woodland Residential 38

Site Description The site is located within the strategic allocation area which is subject of a hybrid planning application for the regeneration of the former Bordon Garrison site. It is located to the northeast of the Bordon and Oakhanger Sports Club (BOSC), an established sports and recreational facility on the northern outskirts of Bordon. There is an existing access track bisecting the site, which is indirectly connected to Bolley Avenue and Oakhanger Road. This track links to another that defines the eastern perimeter of the site.

The site forms the edge of plantation woodland and adjoins new dwellings that are being developed to to the south and south-west. The wider area has a sylvan character to which the site contributes.

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W&B3 – BOSC Residential Expansion List of constraints & opportunities •

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On-going regeneration: development in the wider area that is associated with the hybrid planning consent (ref: 55587/001) will influence the layout and character of new housing as well as suitable access points and route connections.

Biodiversity: site is adjacent to two SINCs (Free Piece West, Oxney Farm; Oxney Farm Woodland) and close to others. There are also two tree protection orders close to the site’s western boundary associated with the BOSC. Biodiversity: recreational impacts on the Wealden Heaths European SPA & SAC sites would need to be appropriately mitigated.

Access: potential to connect the site to the green loop and green grid network of local routes, improving permeability for walking and cycling modes and enabling healthy & active lifestyles.

Access: vehicular access could be achieved through the access road to the BOSC and by connecting the site to new roads associated with adjoining residential development. In its current form, the perimeter access track is unlikely to be suitable as a principal access route for vehicles.

Landscape: there is potential for adverse landscape and visual impacts through the loss of tree cover. Appropriate landscaping could help to integrate the site with its wider woodland context.

Built heritage: no designated constraints to development.

Flood risks: there are no identified flood risks for this site.

Minerals: as with all parts of the Whitehill & Bordon regeneration area, the site forms part of land that has been safeguarded for minerals extraction (soft sand/silica sand).

Summary of Reasons for Inclusion The site scores above average in the Local Planning Authority’s Accessibility Study. It could be well-connected to both areas of natural greenspace and to parts of Whitehill & Bordon, via connecting the site to the green loop and green grid network of routes, thus supporting healthy and active lifestyles for residents. However, new housing could significantly alter the sylvan character of the landscape setting to new development in the BOSC area. Adverse landscape and visual impacts could be mitigated by appropriate design and site layout, with new and retained green infrastructure (trees and landscaping) being used to integrate development with the wider woodland context. Potential impacts on the Wealden Heaths Phase II SPA could be mitigated by new SANG, or existing facilities (depending on their capacity). There are large areas in the immediate environs of Whitehill & Bordon where green infrastructure improvements could be funded by new development, to achieve biodiversity net gain. Prior extraction of mineral deposits could be undertaken to avoid the unnecessary sterilisation of resources.

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