One five-bedroom dwelling at Purbeck, East Wellow, Romsey

Summary of planning committee decision

Decided by Test Valley Southern Area Planning Committee on 4 Nov 2025.

25/01801/FULLSRefusedAgainst officer advice

Earlier applications

An earlier application was withdrawn in April 2025, while a 2022 application was refused and its appeal was dismissed.

“HISTORY 4.1 25/00691/FULLS Erection of dwelling and garage and associated works. Withdrawn 25.04.2025.”

“22/02219/FULLS Erection of one dwellinghouse, garage and associated works. Refused 02.11.2022, Appeal dismissed 14.11.2023.”

Officer report

What officers advised

Officers recommended permission because the housing benefits and sustainable location outweighed policy conflicts, with conditions and legal agreements.

“It is acknowledged that there would be some conflict with the WNDP due to the siting of the dwelling being in the countryside and the provision of a larger dwelling, however as discussed in paragraph 8.10 the location of the proposal is considered to be sustainable. In addition to this, the size of the dwelling would respect the identified characteristics of the area in accordance with policy WP-B2.”

“CONCLUSION 9.1 In conclusion, whilst the proposal conflicts with policy COM2 the location of the development presents a sustainable form of development that would not result in any harm to the character and appearance of the area, residential amenity, biodiversity, access and parking. Permission is therefore recommended subject to conditions and notes.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

The council, ecology, highways and trees consultees raised no objection subject to requirements, while landscape requested landscaping, entrance and lighting details.

“CONSULTATIONS 5.1 New Forest District Council – No objection. Subject to Ecologist being satisfied with the proposal.”

“Landscape – Comment. Views of the proposed development would be negligible from all potential viewpoints. Details regarding hard and soft landscaping, entrance details and lighting would be required via conditions.”

Officer report

The committee’s main concern

The committee considered that a large five-bedroom home would worsen the village’s unbalanced housing supply and conflict with the neighbourhood plan.

“The proposed development by virtue of the provision of a large 5 bedroom dwelling is contrary to Policy WP-H1 of the Wellow Neighbourhood Plan. The provision of additional large properties would perpetuate the imbalanced housing supply in the village and would not contribute to a suitable mix of housing and detract from the sustainability of Wellow. There is no justification for the proposed departure from the very recently made Neighbourhood Development Plan.”

“The benefits of the proposal are acknowledged, but do not outweigh the identified policy conflict. The proposed development by means of its nature, location and scale could have likely significant effects upon the nearby Solent and Southampton Water European Designated Site which is designated for its conservation importance.”

Minutes

The vote

The motion in the agenda fell, then councillors carried a motion for refusal proposed by Councillor Parker and seconded by Councillor Gidley.

“The motion as set out in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Cooper and seconded by Councillor A Dowden. Upon being put to the vote, the motion fell. A motion for refusal was proposed by Councillor Parker and seconded by Councillor Gidley. Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.”

Minutes

The members' reasons

The minutes do not record the members' reasons for departing from the officers' recommendation.

Sources

  • Test Valley Southern Area Planning Committee minutes, 4 November 2025
  • Agenda and papers (council website)

Source: Plota analysis of Test Valley's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.

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At the meeting

Date
Tuesday 4 November 2025
Recommendation
Officers recommended approval
Committee decided
Refused, against officer advice
Minutes
The council's minutes
Meeting
Agenda and papers (council website)
Application
The application (council website)

This committee's year

10 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 2 against officer advice.

Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.

Every decision by this council's committees →