300 build-to-rent apartments approved in Basingstoke

Developers have been given the green light to demolish a large office building and replace it with more than 300 apartments.

The team behind the scheme for View Point in Basing View, Basingstoke, said it would “kick start” the wider regeneration of the area.

Members of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s development control committee approved the application despite concerns over car parking, waste management arrangements and a lack of affordable housing.

The proposal from Packaged Living and Buccleuch Property (Basingstoke) Ltd will provide 326 build-to-rent apartments, communal facilities, new landscaping and public realm, and commercial space on the ground floor.

The committee meeting on Wednesday, May 28, heard the project had been amended to reduce the height, bulk and overall scale.

This resulted in the highest part of the development falling from 21 to 15 storeys, a drop from 370 to 326 apartments and additional roof top gardens.

Taylor Cherrett, director at planning agent Turley, said the wholly purpose-built build-to-rent proposal was the first of its kind in Basingstoke.

He said a detailed assessment, verified by the council’s own experts, had shown affordable housing and other contributions were unviable, but the applicant had proposed a contribution towards off-site affordable housing and open space improvements.

The proposals would generate more than £450,000 in council tax annually, alongside more than £6million a year in resident spending on retail, leisure, goods and services, Mr Cherrett said.

Mark Woodrow, chief operating officer of Packaged Living, said: “We aren’t a developer that will build this and leave it.

“We are long-term investors and with this application we are making a long-term commitment to Basingstoke.

“The fact we are in this for the long term is also why we are so focused on quality.”

He added: “This will help to kick start the wider regeneration of Basing View and we will provide high-quality rental accommodation, helping to raise the standard of rented accommodation across Basingstoke by setting a high bar for others to meet.”

The housing mix proposed was 187 one-bed, 131 two-bed and eight three-bed apartments.

The scheme included 124 car parking spaces, which was below parking standards, but was considered acceptable by planning officers due to the sustainable location.

Mr Woodrow said any resident in the scheme who wanted to keep their car on site would need to rent a parking space.

Concerns were raised by members of the committee over whether the local waste authority would be able to serve the scheme or if it would be reliant on a private management company.

Officer Mike Townsend said a condition had been included to overcome such fears.

Cllr Andrew McCormick said: “What has concerned a lot of us is the potential for people to be parking outside (the site) and what that impact might have were that the case.

“I don’t think we have enough information on that tonight to be able to make an informed decision about it in all honesty.”

He said the lack of affordable housing left him questioning to what extent the scheme would help resolve the borough’s housing issues.

Cllr Mike Bound said he was “not particularly happy” about the parking provision but added “anybody who is going to rent in that building would know the situation”.

“If they haven’t got a parking space allocated, I can’t see if they have got a car that they are going to want to rent in the building, they will go elsewhere, so I don’t really see that the parking is particularly a problem,” Cllr Bound said.

“The lack of affordable housing within it is very disappointing as far as I’m concerned, whilst appreciating the viability has been looked at by an independent assessor and after all there are going to be 326 dwellings towards housing land supply.”

Cllr Bound said despite these factors, he was willing to move the officer’s recommendation for approval.

The committee voted eight in favour and two against to grant the application.