Sane Planning in the South East

In the late 1980s, CPRE members came together with other concerned individuals to fight off a major threat to England's planning system. They helped to set up an action group which is called 'Sane Planning in the South East' (SPISE) specifically to fight a threat by a new company named Consortium Developments (CD). The company comprised ten major house builders, who each provided significant finance to find 15 sites for new towns. This was a direct threat to the planning system by developers trying to force through building that was not in the Local Plan.

Having lost an application at Tillingham Hall in Essex, the company looked for new areas to develop and set their sights on Hook. However, during negotiations, Charles Church acquired a plot in the middle of the site and CD decided that they needed to find a single-ownership site.

Foxley Wood, a one square mile woodland site at Bramshill Common, was in single ownership with a tenancy by the Forestry Commission. When the owner agreed to sell CD an option, an independent action group started which was originally all CPRE members. We decided that as Consortium Developments was such a big concern we had to fight against the whole concept, not just this one application. We wanted to reinforce the need for applicants to work through the planning system.

We worked closely with Hart District Council officers at every stage of the process. The application was refused and went to a long appeal hearing. The Inspector recommended refusing the application, but Nicholas Ridley, then Secretary of State for the Environment, published a 'preliminary report' saying that he was 'minded to grant permission'. This resulted in a public outcry.

Philip Todd, Chairman of Eversley Parish Council, said:

"We were saying that if, in a case like this, you completely ignore the local plan, then you effectively just change the whole planning system and ethos, and you are in a completely new ball game."

Edward Dawson, Vice President of SPISE and later Chairman of CPRE Hampshire, said:

"This was a remarkable moment in British planning history. The case for new towns had not been proven, but it made people think and act, and brought the community together."

Following a political backlash, Nicholas Ridley left office and was replaced by Chris Patten, who agreed with the Planning Inspectorate and refused permission. Fairly soon after that, Consortium Developments ceased trading and the threat of new towns was over.

But, then came Micheldever Station new town proposal in mid Hampshire, and the battle started up again ... it has not stopped.

Hart & Rushmoor District Group
CPRE Hampshire
May 2006

This page updated 2nd June 2006