The Southern Area Planning Committee of Test Valley Borough Council met on 23 September 2025, and approved four planning applications. These included the retrospective approval for canopy workshops at Willbox, the erection of two dwellings in Abbotswood, and the change of use of agricultural land to residential garden in North Baddesley. Councillors also approved a change of use application for a unit on Adanac Park.

Willbox Canopy Workshops

Councillors approved the application for the re-siting of two canopy workshops at Willbox, Crescent Estate, for use as covered workspace for ancillary repairs and maintenance of the container rental fleet, and the fitting out of prefabricated containers into site accommodation units. This was subject to a number of conditions, including that the premises be used for the mixed use of land for the fabrication and conversion of containers (B2) and storage (B8), and for no other purpose. The Nursling and Rownhams Parish Council and the Old Nursling Residents Association had objected to the application.

The committee noted that the canopy workshops are currently on site adjacent to the northern boundary of the wider Crescent Estate but do not benefit from planning permission, following the refusal of application reference 22/03315/FULLS and subsequent dismissal of the corresponding enforcement notice.

The council report noted that concerns had been raised that the large white structures would still be highly visible from the M27, which could distract drivers, and that the proposed use would affect the amenity level of residents who live close to the site due to noise from angle grinding and repair works on containers.

The report also noted that the Old Nursling Residents Association had said that the re-siting process as proposed in this current application simply evades the Enforcement Notice condition, and that the current application fails to offer any comprehensive improvement.

The approval was subject to conditions including:

• The development must be begun within three years
• The premises shall be used for the mixed use of land for the fabrication and conversion of containers (B2) and storage (B8), and for no other purpose
• The fabrication and conversion of containers (Use Class B2) shall only take place within the canopy workshops hereby permitted and between the hours of 07:00 – 18:00 Monday to Friday, 07:00 – 13:00 on Saturdays and at no time on Sundays or Public Holidays
• Within two months of the first use of the canopy workshops, the roof canopies shall be covered externally in their entirety in accordance with the details set out in the email received on 01.09.2025.
• The canopies and additional coverings hereby permitted shall be removed and replaced to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority, on or before 5 years from the date of this permission in accordance with a scheme of work submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

Land South of Southern View and Broad Oak, Sandy Lane, Abbotswood, Romsey Town

Councillors approved the erection of two dwellings and carports, access, and associated hard and soft landscaping at land to the South of Southern View and Broad Oak, Sandy Lane, Abbotswood, Romsey Town.

The committee delegated to the Head of Planning and Building for further consultation with Natural England to identify appropriate Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) provision and the imposition/amendment of planning conditions and/or obligations as required.

The committee also delegated to the Head of Planning and Building for completion of a legal agreement securing:

1. Nitrate mitigation
2. Financial contribution towards the New Forest Special Protection Area (SPA) recreational pressure Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) mitigation scheme.
3. Financial contribution towards the New Forest SPA recreational pressure Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) mitigation scheme.
4. Section 106 monitoring contribution

The approval was subject to conditions including:

• The development must be begun within three years
• No development shall take place above damp proof course (DPC) level of the development hereby permitted until samples and details of the materials to be used in the construction of all external surfaces hereby permitted have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.
• The development hereby approved shall be designed and built to meet Regulation 36 2(b) requirement of 110 litres/person/day water efficiency set out in part G2 of Building Regulations 2015.
• No external lighting shall be installed unless in accordance with details that have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The details shall be in accordance with the 'Bats and Artificial Lighting at Night' Guidance Note GN08/23.

Talisman, Castle Lane, North Baddesley, Chilworth

Councillors approved the change of use of agricultural land to residential (C3) garden without complying with Condition 03 on planning permission 06/01883/FULLS which limits use of barn to agricultural and equestrian storage purposes only at Talisman, Castle Lane, North Baddesley.

The Chilworth Parish Council had objected to the application, stating that the proposal contravenes Policy COM2 by enabling residential use in a countryside location without operational justification, conflicts with Policy E2 due to potential impacts on landscape character and fails to align with sustainable development principles under Policy SD1.

The approval was subject to conditions including:

• The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the details shown on the submitted plans
• no building, structure or means of enclosure of any kind shall be erected within the application site without the prior written consent of the Local Planning Authority.
• The existing building shown within the application site shall not be occupied at any time other than for purposes ancillary to the residential use of the dwelling known as Talisman

Plot AP6, Adanac Park, Nursling Street, Nursling and Rownhams

Councillors approved the change of use from consented B1¹, E(g)², B2³, B8⁴, B8 Trade Counter Use to now include E(d) Indoor sport, recreation or sports, to Building B Unit B7 only at Plot AP6, Adanac Park.

The committee noted that the application site is situated within the settlement boundary of Nursling and Rownhams and is allocated under Policy LE6 (Adanac Park) for office/research/manufacturing (Class B1) and support facilities.

The approval was subject to conditions including:

• The development must be begun within three years
• The development hereby permitted shall be limited to use as or indoor sport, recreation or fitness, not involving motorised vehicles or firearms (and for no other use within Class E without the written consent of the Local Planning Authority), E(g) , B2 General industrial and B8 Storage & Distribution use, or a mixture of such uses
• No individual unit, or cumulative occupation of multiple units by a single company, comprising B2 or B8 use shall exceed 3,000 sqm
• Prior to the first occupation of the building the acoustic barriers approved under Condition 5 of permission 24/00267/FULLS shall be installed in accordance with the approved details.
• The area of indoor sport, recreation or fitness use at ground floor level shall not exceed 600sqm, with the remaining ground floor area limited to ancillary uses. Use of the mezzanine floor for indoor sport, recreation, fitness or ancillary uses shall be limited to the existing floor area.