THE developer hoping to build 97 new homes on land south west of Old Odiham Road has been thwarted.

Inspector Lesley Coffey, appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, formally dismissed an appeal on Tuesday against East Hampshire District Council’s (EHDC) previous refusal of the scheme.

In December, EHDC threw the application out as councillors felt it would be an “undesirable extension of development” beyond the built-up area of the town and, if permitted, “would be seriously detrimental to the visual amenity and rural character of the locality”.

There were also concerns as the proposal “constitutes an unacceptable intrusion” into the countryside and would, therefore, bridge the “important gap between Alton and the strategic woodland area to the north-west”.

Further issues were raised, including the proposed vehicular access to the houses which EHDC felt couldn’t be achieved without “resulting in the loss of trees and hedgerow on the north-eastern boundary of the site” and causing “significant harm to the rural location of this section of Old Odiham Road”.

However, applicant David Meisels was undeterred and, in May, appealed against the council’s decision.

Planning consultants CgMs Ltd claimed EHDC’s reasons for refusal were “completely unfounded” and said the application had demonstrated that it “will bring about a number of benefits to Alton which significantly outweigh the council’s refusal reasons”.

They said the proposal will form a “natural extension” to the town and felt the 97 homes would not have a detrimental impact on the visual amenity and rural character of the area.

Addressing the concerns regarding trees and hedgerows, the consultants maintained that there would be a “very limited loss” which would be mitigated against as much as possible.

But Mrs Coffey wasn’t convinced and echoed the concerns of councillors and a number of residents who had actively opposed the development.

She described the surrounding land, currently used for agriculture, as “predominantly open in character” and recognised that the “emerging neighbourhood plan identifies the setting of Alton within a valley bowl as a defining feature which underpins its sense of place”.

EHDC also referred her to the recent appeal dismissal of plans to build 120 new homes nearby, on land south west of Highmead House.

With respect to that application, the inspector concluded that it would “unacceptably harm the character and appearance of the area due to its effect on views in and around Alton”.

“It suggests that since the proposed dwellings on the appeal site would occupy higher ground by comparison with those proposed at Highmead that the appeal scheme would have a similar adverse effect on the setting of Alton,” added Mrs Coffey.

This development would therefore even further break the “green skyline” formed by the hills which, she explained, would be unacceptable.

“The appeal proposal would deliver some benefits in terms of 97 dwellings including affordable dwellings,” she added. “However, it would give rise to significant harm to the setting of Alton and the character and appearance of Old Odiham Road. Moreover, it would conflict with policies aimed at protecting the countryside for its own sake and the spatial strategy for the district.

“I have found for the reasons given above that the proposal would not be sustainable development, therefore conclude that the benefits of the proposal are significantly outweighed by the harm that would arise from it. I conclude that the appeal should be dismissed.”

John Grace, chairman of the Alton and District Residents’ Association (ADRA), said he welcomed the decision.

“We concur with the principle reasons that while the proposed development of 97 dwellings would give some social and economic benefits, it would, however, give rise to significant harm to the setting of Alton and the character and appearance of Old Odiham Road.

“Put more simply, while understanding the need for more housing in our town this site is not the right place to build houses on.”

And he added: “The inspector makes reference to the maturing Alton Neighbourhood Plan, the Alton Town Design Statement (2008) and the Alton Study Final Report (2013), demonstrating the importance of these documents and underlining the hard work of the authors on behalf of the townsfolk of Alton.”

Julia Mansi, the district council’s development management manager, was also pleased with this week’s dismissal.

“This is an excellent decision,” she said. “The inspector has supported all the reasons for refusal and taken account of the concerns of Alton Town Council and the neighbourhood plan group. This site is important for the setting of the town and this decision supports its protection.”