Test Valley Borough Council is set to review plans for a new church and community hub in Romsey, addressing local needs and environmental concerns
Romsey: Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) is gearing up to decide on a new church and community hub. This project also includes landscaping and parking on Greatbridge Road.
The application comes from Freedom Church and was first submitted back in February 2023. It’s planned for a field behind the Esso petrol station, covering about 1.15 hectares.
According to the officer report, the building will be around 42.5 meters by 36.5 meters and about 8.9 meters tall at the northwest corner of the site.
They’re also looking to add a circular prayer room that’s about 9.6 meters in diameter and an amphitheater that’s roughly 11.5 meters across.
Plus, there are plans for more landscaping, biodiversity enhancements, and even two ponds to boost the area’s natural beauty.
However, the plans had to be tweaked after the Environment Agency raised flooding concerns back in October 2023.
In the conclusion of the report, case officer Graham Melton noted that the proposal would bring significant social benefits and some economic perks, while having a neutral impact on the environment.
But, the green light for this project hinges on getting a satisfactory response from Natural England and ensuring that any potential harm to local ecology is avoided.
While the documents highlight the benefits, there’s been some pushback. Many locals are worried about the level of development in Romsey.
One objector, Robert Dalton from Priestlands, argued that the chosen plot is prime grazing land and should either remain agricultural or be turned into allotments for the growing population.
He also pointed out that there’s no real need for more places of worship in Romsey, especially since the 2021 census showed a significant drop in religious identification in the Test Valley over the last decade.
If the council approves the plans, construction must start within two years. The site is in the countryside, where development is usually only allowed in special cases, and this project needs to meet an immediate community need.
The planning committee will meet at Crosfield Hall in Romsey on Tuesday, January 14, at 5:30 PM to discuss this further.
