Contact us
Visit CPRE.org
Donate
North Hampshire District Group
The group covers the expanding town of Basingstoke and all the villages within the Borough of Basingstoke and Deane.
CPRE, the Countryside Charity aims to preserve our valued landscapes and countryside for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.
We, at the North Hampshire District Group of CPRE Hampshire, monitor local planning applications to identify development proposals which would be at odds with these aims and be out of keeping with the local landscape character. One recent example was an application for 28 houses at Cliddesden to which we objected as it proposed a suburban estate type development in the countryside. Our objection was successful in that the application was refused by Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council (BDBC). The applicant appealed the decision, but the appeal was dismissed by the Planning Inspector who agreed that the proposal would have adverse effects on the character of the area and be contrary to Local Plan policies.
The Local Plan is drafted by the Council to guide planning decisions and allocate sites for development. The draft plan then goes through various stages of consultation and examination before finally being adopted. Currently BDBC’s plan is being updated and the first consultation stage completed in March 2024. However, due to the increase in housing numbers mandated by the Government, this consultation will be repeated in Autumn/Winter 2025. On the current timetable, the plan will be adopted in Winter 2027.
North Hampshire District Group Acting Chair and Fundraising
Hannah Houstin-Lacey
Hannah can be contacted at hannahhoustinlacey@yahoo.co.uk.
Main Committee
Treasurer: William Bishop
Planning: Des O’Donnell des.odonnell@btinternet.com
Hugo Ward
Cathryn Whiteside
North Hampshire District Group – Events and Updates
Lower Norton Flower Farm Visit – June 2025
On 26th June, a group of local CPRE members and supporters visited the delightful Lower Norton Flower Farm, near Sutton Scotney, owned and managed by Alison Coleman and husband Tom.
Alison welcomed us to the farm and after an informative talk on the 4-year history of the farm and its operation, took us on a guided tour around the flower growing areas, giving us further information on both the challenges and opportunities for cultivating the flowers most suitable for a variety of occasions and customers. These include weddings, farewells, dried flower arrangements, a pick your own service and wholesale supply to florists, the emphasis being on sustainability and traditional British flowers.
The Flower Farm covers 4 acres within the larger arable farm and Tom described how this was being managed to restore and provide habitats for farmland birds and other wildlife and biodiversity. Finally, while enjoying tea and cakes, we were given an inspiring flower arranging demonstration. We all agreed it had been a most enjoyable and interesting visit.
Group Supper and Talk – Friday, 8th November 2024
Nick Walton of CPRE Hampshire presented an excellent and very informative talk, at Ellisfield Village Hall, to the Group’s members and their guests on Water – planning, development and our declining rivers.
The facts were a shock to most and highlighted a harsh reality about this very real situation caused by overbuilding and the knock-on demand for water. Diverse pollutants and pollution are an increasing threat to our drinking water and rivers. More needs to be done to protect our water and STOP this serious situation. Visit the CPRE Hampshire website to understand the work the Water Focus Group is doing with the authorities and others.
Attendees voiced their thanks for an excellent presentation and a very convivial evening.
Hannah Houstin-Lacey
Chair, CPRE North Hants District Group
Local Plan Status
As at May 2022.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
The current local plan period is 2011 to 2029 and is currently going through an update process which will ultimately result in a new plan period up to 2040.
A six week public consultation on the draft plan was completed on 4th March 2024 and the remaining timetable is Publication of Submission Draft Local Plan (Reg 19) – Winter 2024/25; Submission (Reg 22) – Spring 2025; Examination and Main Modifications – Summer 2025; Adoption – Winter 2025/26
Please take a look at our Planning Hub for further information and insight into the planning process.
