Introduction to CPRE Hampshire Response

I.1 In preparing this Response to the Consultation Draft of the South East Plan, CPRE Hampshire has had a wide consultation amongst volunteers and members of CPRE Hampshire, its seven District Groups, parish councils, amenity societies and some members of the public. The comments received have helped to formulate this Response.

I.2 A public meeting on the consultation draft was held in the Guildhall in Winchester on 2 February attended by 320 CPRE Hampshire members and members of the public. A presentation was made to this meeting by Mike Gwilliam of SEERA and Jonathan Glen, member of SEERA and Hampshire County Councillor, as well as by Edward Dawson, regional Director of CPRE South East. The presentations were followed by an extensive discussion session with the speakers.

I.3 Each of our District Groups has had discussions within its own structure, and has been represented on the Branch Planning Group within which this Response has been debated and approved.

I.4 Several of our volunteers have given talks to parish councils and amenity societies during the consultation period, and received feedback from those meetings which have influenced this Response.

I.5 We refer to the Response to the consultation draft made by CPRE South East. CPRE Hampshire has participated in the discussions leading to the terms of that Response, and it has our full support.

I.6 Regional Baseline Data provided by ERM in the Sustainability Appraisal provides historic and current trends that affect the South East in terms of the economic, social and environmental indicators established in the Integrated Regional Framework. Annex A analyses some of these trends in very simple terms of "improving" or "getting worse".

I.7 What is clear from Annex A is that in essence the economic indicators show steady improvement, whereas the environmental indicators show a steady decline. For many of these indicators the decline in fact started after the Second World War and has been continuous since then.

I.8 Asking the question, then, "where is the South East most vulnerable?" the answer is to be found in its environment. It is known that our environment is highly valued by residents, and is acknowledged within the South East Plan to be a notable asset of the South East, especially in terms of quality and variety of the countryside, historic towns, coastline and biodiversity.

I.9 The South East Plan seeks high levels of growth in order improve economic trends, but, as the baseline data shows, these are already improving. Yet, the sought for growth will tend to make worse those environmental trends that are already in decline according to the same baseline data.

I.S1 Regional Baseline data shows that economic indicators in the South East Regions show steady improvement, whereas the environmental indicators show a steady decline. It is in its environment that the South East is most vulnerable.

I.10 Sustainable development is rightly an aim of the South East Plan. An approach based on environmental capacity will tend to be consistent with the principles of sustainable development, whereas one based mainly on economic growth that exceeds environmental capacity will not be consistent with those principles. The goal of sustainable development is constantly being undermined by pursuit of economic growth, regardless of social and environmental consequences. Economic growth should not be a goal in its own right, but must be integrated (not balanced) with social and economic considerations.

I.S2 The goal of sustainable development is constantly being undermined by pursuit of economic growth, regardless of social and environmental consequences. Economic growth should not be a goal in its own right, but must be integrated (not balanced) with social and economic considerations. This does not appear to be the case with the South East Plan, which is very growth oriented.

I.11 It is very difficult to encapsulate the supporting text within Policy wordings, yet this draft Plan demonstrates how important the supporting text is within Regional Spatial Strategies. Indeed much of the policy is contained within the supporting text.

I.S3 In view of their importance for development of Local Development Frameworks, the supporting paragraphs of the Plan should be more weight than is usual in development plans.