Planning applications

Responding to consultation on new emerging Local Plans

A number of our CPRE Hampshire District Groups have recently been heavily involved in submitting consultation responses to their Local Planning Authorities. All Local Planning authorities must review and, if necessary, update their Local Plans every 5 years. To do this they must engage with local residents and relevant organisations to identify how planning policy can be used positively to help address key issues within the local authority area. The purpose is to allow interested parties an opportunity to review the proposed vision and objectives of the plan, comment on proposed policies and sites to be allocated for development, and, if necessary, to suggest alternatives.

Responses have been submitted to both East Hampshire and Basingstoke and Deane District Councils and we are still completing the response for Test Valley. All these emerging Local Plans are at the ‘Regulation 18, part 2’ stage.

Once consultation responses have been considered and responded to, the Planning authority will produce the next draft version of their plan, taking this into consideration. The process of producing a Local Plan from start to finish can take a number of years. In all our responses we are focussing on the importance of the emerging Local Plan being “landscape led”. This means starting with people and how they live; the spaces and places that support this; and only then sorting out the buildings. It is about making a place where people belong. And this is the Old English meaning of landscape. We also expect each local authority to have a clear policy on protecting Valued Landscapes, and to consider the supply and removal of waste/sewage in planning decisions. We will also focus on policies designed to address the climate change emergency, whilst protecting the countryside. It is also important to note that national parks are the planning authority for the areas they cover.

You can read about the specific district updates below.

North Hants

The response to the Local Plan has been the main focus of activity. Support from a planning consultant, to apply our responses to the position statements of CPRE Hampshire, allowed us to concentrate on individual sites detailed in the plan. We have objected to the proposed ‘garden village’ at Poppenham airfield but supported the development of a ‘brownfield site’ at Overton Mill.

The proposal for warehousing at junction 7 of the M3 still features in the Local Plan and a proposed development in Skates Lane, south of Tadley, although not in the Local Plan, is likely to be submitted for a development of 240 houses.

South Downs and Central

CPRE Hampshire put in a comprehensive response to the latest consultation on the East Hants Local Plan. We supported most of the policies. We expressed strong concerns on housing numbers being too high, necessitating proposed allocation of a new strategic site for 1000 homes near Alton within a Valued Landscape; lack of affordable market housing and social housing; and lack of specific protection for Valued Landscapes.

We are concerned that approval was given, by a majority, for a large solar farm in a prominent location in a Valued Landscape near Winchester. Despite strong objection from CPRE Hampshire, parish councils, individuals and objection from the Winchester City Council Landscape Team.

Test Valley

There is no committee now running the Test Valley District Group. However, Moya and John are reviewing the TVBC draft Local Plan focusing on catchment issues, a major concern, and housing numbers and location. Overpumping of ground water and sewage into the Test at many points in January was only stopped by public outcry and an intervention by Caroline Nokes MP and Southern Water CEO Lawrence Gosden. We are concerned about the number of solar farms in the Test Valley and recommend all members visit www.cpre.org.uk for information on the rooftop solar panel campaign and to sign the petition. The countryside is disappearing under solar arrays. Put them on every roof – not along every road.

New Forest

New Forest District Council have just announced a review of their Local Plan. This is an opportunity to input into the process that will look at housing delivery, the climate emergency and the impact of the Freeport designation. We welcome involvement from interested members. Re-consultation on the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan ends on 5 March. Allocations at Ashley Manor Farm in New Milton and Midgham Farm near Fordingbridge are particularly controversial and we will be maintaining
our objections to both. As warmer weather approaches we are looking forward to attending the New Forest & Hampshire Show 31st July – 1st August. See you there!

South Hampshire

As usual with planning in South Hampshire, we await the deliberations of all local authorities in PfSH (Partnership for South Hampshire). They agree amongst themselves about housing numbers and how to share out any larger allocations. The following greenfield has been identified as “Broad Areas of Search for Growth”: south-east/east of Eastleigh Town (Eastleigh), Southleigh (Havant), east of Romsey (Test Valley), south-west of Chandler’s Ford (Test Valley) and east of Botley (Winchester). PfSH estimate that these areas have the potential to deliver a combined total of approximately 9,700 homes, which is on top of those allocations we already know about in current local plans.