THE proposed development of a new village near Odiham has once again come under scrutiny in a newly published report.

Chartered Charted surveyors Berrys has published a report on the behalf of Save Rye Common Action Group in which it has labelled the plans “unnecessary” and not consistent with the emerging Local Plan strategy of Hart District Council.

The Rye Common plans which were submitted by developers Bell Cornwell propose to build between 1,600 and 1,900 new homes on the site just off the A287, and the report has stated that the proposals “fails the tests of sustainable development and is unjustified”.

Developers Bell Cornwell, which submitted the plans in October, are currently reviewing feedback received during the public consultation period which closed in November.

The Save Rye Common Action Group which has since sprouted up, has expressed further concerns following the Berrys-led report.

It states: “The proposed Rye Common new settlement will essentially be an inward looking dormitory town. The proposed masterplan makes no commentary on how many jobs will be provided as part of the new settlement and the expectation is that residents will commute to higher order centres such as Aldershot/Farnborough and Basingstoke.

“Indeed the new settlement lying directly off the A287 gives easy access to Aldershot to the east and Basingstoke to the west and junction 5 of M3 leading to Farnborough.

“The strong likelihood is that residents from the new settlement will commute out of the district and would make a very limited contribution to supporting a 10-strong or responsive economy for Hart District.

“As regards the economic dimension of sustainable development the site at Rye Common is clearly in the wrong place.”

Many parish councils in the catchment area of the “Rye Common New Village” have expressed their stance against the plans ever being given the go ahead.

Odiham Parish Council (OPC), joined Crondall Parish Council in objecting to the plans proposed by the Hook-based company.

In a statement the parish council said: “At its council meeting, Odiham Parish Council voted unanimously to submit a comment of concern and objection to the vision statement published by Bell Cornwell.

“This site bridges borders of the parishes of Odiham and North Warnborough and Crondall. OPC notes that Crondall Parish Council has already submitted a response in objection to the vision and OPC wishes to note that it supports and endorses this submission fully.

“OPC has previously raised concerns, related to previous applications for more modest development, that this area is served by little if anything in the way of infrastructure. Roads are few and narrow, there are no shops or community services in the area and access to public transport is almost non-existent.”

Other issues raised by the council include added pressures on the A287 road which is already running at 65-70 per cent capacity without the addition of almost 2,000 new homes, as well as the burden it would be to schools in the Hart area.

“An increased population in 1,900 new homes at this location would add greatly to the education burden that the secondary schools in Fleet and Odiham are already struggling to cope with,” it added, eventually concluding with a damning statement of the plans.

“OPC sees this application as speculative and neither the need nor the benefits of such a development are currently apparent to the council.

“The parish council also draws attention to the fact that the emerging Odiham and North Warnborough Neighbourhood Plan does not support development of this nature or in this location.

“In summary, Odiham Parish Council is of the opinion that this development is not appropriate in this location and does not have the support to progress with any real possibility of success.”

For more information about Save Rye Common Action Group visit www.ryecommon.co.uk, while the full plans for the development can be found at www.bell-cornwell.co.uk/news/rye-common-new-village-proposal.