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Queensgate development moves onto next stage
By Tim HarrisJanuary 31, 2012
MORE jobs could come to Farnborough as a long-term building development moves into the next phase, developers have said.
It is hoped the Queensgate development, on Government House Road, which includes a proposed nursing care home, will bring additional employment to the area.
However, the whole planning application has currently been put on hold, after Inland Homes recently put forward documents to the council for a viability assessment to judge whether the developer can meet affordable housing requirements.
John Thorne, development control manager for Rushmoor Borough Council, said the application will not proceed any further until after the outcome of this assessment.
“The application is on hold at the moment,” he said. “Some weeks after the planning application, Inland Homes submitted documents about their ability to provide adequate affordable housing.
“The viability assessment will be independently checked. There is a development plan policy that says 35% [of a development] should be affordable housing.”
Phase one of the development was completed at the end of 2011, with phase two set to begin in February. The completed phase means 123 homes have already been built on the site by developers Inland Homes, including 29 houses they have delivered to Radian Housing Association for affordable housing.
Phase two will see 14 two-bedroom houses and five two-bedroom apartments built on the Queensgate development.
The nursing care home is currently just a possibility, but Inland Homes believe, if realised, it will bring nearly 100 new jobs to Farnborough.
Paul Brett, land director for Inland Homes, said: “There would be specific employment opportunities. There would be specific employment benefits for the local people.
“The nursing home would be an 80-bedroom care home, and it is predicted there would be 80 jobs there alone.
“We are currently looking to find an operator for the nursing home, which would be requested before commencing production.
“This would be a nursing home provider.
“The nursing home is identified to be built at a later date. The demand is not there in Farnborough at the moment.”
Inland Homes submitted an updated planning application to Rushmoor Borough Council which brought the total to 265 homes on the site, broken down into 228 apartments and 37 houses.
The application also details the potential nursing home, commercial uses, play areas and car parking.
The total size of the Queensgate development, if approved, would cover 5,000 square metres of land.
The updated application was put in to ensure the Queensgate development conforms to modern requirements.
“It is a recognition of the planning of the site to fit with current trends,” said Mr Brett.
“The objective is to provide and produce a site that is more suitable for Farnborough.
“There would be the benefit of new housing for people wanting to live in the area. There would be affordable housing for people in the area.”
Feedback to the updated Queensgate planning application has shown not everyone agrees with the proposals.
One member of the public commented: “No further development is required in this area. It should become a recreational/wildlife refuge.”
Another person added: “There is plenty of housing nearby, plenty of brownfield sites available – no need for building on greenfield.”
Some people felt the divide between houses and apartments planned is incorrect.
“Too many apartments in the plan,” read one public comment. “I suggest more houses, less apartments and more visitor parking.”
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Most recent user comments 3 of 3
bluesy - Couldn't agree more. There is also a huge new house premium which seems quite wrong. I have a good sized detached four bed house with enclosed rear garden and a garage that would, going by the last valuation, sell for about the same very little more than the asking price some new 3 bedroomed terraced houses we have seen - (often with no Garage).
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