South Hampshire & Solent Group Report 2007

South Hampshire & Solent District Group

by Caroline Dibden

The South Hampshire sub-region covers (from East to West) Havant, part of East Hampshire, Portsmouth, part of Winchester, Gosport, Fareham, Eastleigh, Southampton, part of Test Valley, and part of the New Forest District, whose local authorities have grouped together under the acronym PUSH, the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire.

The South Hampshire CPRE group was set up to mirror this sub-regional grouping, but it is a large and complicated area to monitor so we have tried to concentrate on the most important policy issues, and have not had much time for individual applications. The exception being our objection, amongst many others, to an application by Portsmouth Football Club to put a large and well lit practice ground at the historic Titchfield Abbey. Luckily Fareham Borough Council have rejected the application, but Portsmouth FC may well try again.

Otherwise the sub-region has had an absolute flurry of Local Development Framework documents coming from all the Local Authorities. Where possible, with limited resources, the district group has responded on behalf of CPRE. The main thrust of our argument remains that Brownfield land in the cities and urban areas must be developed before Greenfield allocations either in the rural hinterland of the South Hampshire Sub-region, or in the few remaining gaps between the very congested settlements. And we have reiterated our concerns that the two Strategic Development Areas at Fareham North and Botley risk sucking resources away from the most deprived and derelict city centres. We have reminded all the relevant authorities that they also have a coastline to protect and enhance.

We are always looking for active volunteers, in particular someone to help with fundraising and someone to help with administration.

Please contact Branch Office if you feel you can help in this area.