A £700,000 highways planning deal with the Ramshill developers in Petersfield has been agreed by Hampshire County Council.
Last week executive member for the environment, Keith Estlin, gave the go-ahead for a legal agreement to be signed with Bryant Homes to carry out £210,000 of roadworks close to its planned development off Ramshill, and make a further £500,000 contribution towards enhancements and improvements identified in the Petersfield Area Transport Study.
The deal has been struck by East Hampshire District Council and Hampshire County Council in return for planning permission for the massive and long-awaited development of 276 new homes on land off Ramshill. The development will include 81 desperately-needed affordable houses for Petersfield people.
The plan was given the green light by East Hampshire district councillors earlier this year on condition that legal agreements on highways and other matters were agreed with the county and district councils.
It was sent to the Government Office for the South East because the plans involved more than 150 homes and could have been Ôcalled inÕ to be decided by the Secretary of State for the Environment. But last week the developers were told GOSE had decided not to call in the plan and they could go ahead.
In order to cope with the extra traffic generated by the new development and to be able to access the site safely, Bryant Homes has agreed to carry out a £210,000 package of roadworks.
These will include a new junction access with Ramshill, including associated works to the existing road to make way for a ghost island right-turn arrangement, and to amend the road markings to provide the ghost island right-turn at the junction of Ramshill and Kingsfernsden Lane.
Bryants has also agreed to make a £500,000 financial contribution towards enhancements and improvement to facilities for cyclists and pedestrians, and to the public transport infrastructure to provide links between the new homes, the town centre and local facilities including schools.
The approval by Mr Estlin last week means that Hampshire County CouncilÕs legal agreement with Bryant Homes can now be signed and officers will inform East Hampshire District Council that the county council has no objection to the development going ahead.