More than a hundred homes to be built at Welborne by housebuilder CG Fry & Son have been approved by the Fareham Borough Council Planning Committee, completing planning approvals for the first phase of properties outside the Village Centre.
Welborne’s vision for a new generation sustainable garden village has taken a significant step forward as CG Fry & Son received the go-ahead to build 111 high-quality homes, as part of a joint venture with Welborne’s master developer, Buckland. Located at the western end of the Dashwood neighbourhood, CG Fry & Son’s development features a substantial landscaped corridor, offering extensive public open space. Residents will enjoy access to a village centre with essential amenities like a primary school, as well as a park and ancient woodland within close proximity.
The development will boast a diverse range of home sizes, from one to five bedrooms, catering to various market demands. Each home will be complemented by ample provision for secure parking, cycle storage, and private amenity space, reflecting CG Fry & Son’s commitment to environmental standards and creating community.
Mark Thistlethwayte, Chairman, Buckland Group, said:
“The approval of CG Fry & Son’s planning application marks a milestone moment in the first phase of Welborne’s development.
“We remain dedicated to building a place where the heritage of Hampshire is honoured, where community thrives, and where the natural world flourishes alongside residents.
“We are proud to be working in a joint venture with CG Fry & Son. Welborne is set to be a beacon of 21st-century living, and their excellent craftsmanship will be instrumental in bringing the distinctive character of this new generation sustainable garden village to life.”
Other notable features of the development include a design that respects the local Hampshire architectural style, and the homes, as well as commercial space and community buildings, will be heated and cooled by a low-carbon ground source water heat pump network. Residents and businesses will have access to one gigabit super-fast broadband.
CG Fry & Son’s adherence to the Biodiversity Enhancement Strategy ensures that ecological enhancements and sustainable practices are at the heart of the development. Taking a nature-led design approach, more than 50% of Welborne will be green space woven throughout the community, and it will be biodiversity positive with wildlife and natural habitats restored from the previously intensively farmed agricultural land.
Philip Fry, Managing Director, CG Fry & Son, said:
“After nearly two decades in planning, it’s a privilege to bring our dedication to quality home-building to Welborne. Aligned with the vision of the Buckland Group and Fareham Borough Council, we aim to create a 21st-century community that exemplifies excellence in design, sustainability, and living standards.”
This announcement follows recent approvals for Welborne’s other partner housebuilders, Thakeham and Pye Homes, and the registration of Welborne’s Village Centre planning application, which will provide everything needed for a self-sustaining local community, including a school, GP surgery, pub/hotel, cafes, shops, and sports facilities. This latest planning permission takes Welborne up to 474 houses approved, out of a total 700 expected in the first phase of the development, with permission for the village centre and a further 71 houses to be confirmed.
In a new financial model for the sector, the Welborne Master Developer, Buckland, has formed a joint venture with all three SME housebuilders, enabling the construction to follow a single Design Code and Street Manual. This approach will ensure all of Welborne’s neighbourhoods, which will eventually provide homes for 15,000 people, will be characterful and cohesive and the architecture will be in keeping with the local area.