Make your comments count on Local Plan

‘Make your points positive and planning-based’ – that’s the message from East Hampshire District Council’s planners as they launch a consultation on which large scale developments to include in the Draft Local Plan.

Starting on 3 September the council will be gathering information and comments from residents about 10 large development sites.

And EHDC’s planning team is calling for these comments to be based on planning information, saying simple objections will not carry much weight in the final decision.

Cllr Angela Glass, Portfolio Holder for Planning, said: “The Local Plan Large Development Sites Consultation gives residents the chance to tell us anything that might affect a site’s suitability for development and what infrastructure is needed there.

“Don't forget, the council is looking for planning information – it is not about which site attracts the least objections. It is also important to make it clear if there are elements of the proposal you agree with.

“Naturally residents will have most knowledge about sites in their own patch, but they can comment on other sites if they have relevant information there. ​

“Your feedback will help us decide the right location for future development and help make the big decisions on which large development sites to include in the Local Plan.” ​

Information about each potential site and a guide on how best to comment will be online from the start of the consultation.

The consultation is part of the ongoing process to gather the facts and technical information needed to make the decisions about the Local Plan.​

Currently the Draft Local Plan contains two large development sites, Northbrook Park, Bentley, and Whitehill & Bordon, that equate to approximately 2,000 homes.

The consultation will open these two sites and eight more to public comment. The final local plan could confirm those two sites or a combination of the others being considered suitable for development. Whichever sites are chosen, they will equate to the same figure of around 2,000 homes.

The decision will be made based on the information gathered through this consultation, along with the emerging evidence base compiled by EHDC’s planning team. ​​

The consultation will last six weeks and include six drop-in events.

• Alton Assembly Rooms - Tuesday 3 September, 4-7pm
• Barton Hall, Horndean - Saturday 7 September, 10am-2pm
• Alton Assembly Rooms - Saturday 14 September, 10am-2pm
• Forest Community Centre, Bordon - Thursday 19 September, 4-7pm
• Barton Hall, Horndean - Monday 23 September, 4-7pm
• Forest Community Centre, Bordon - Saturday 28 September, 10am-2pm

The 10 sites under consideration are:

• Northbrook Park
• Whitehill & Bordon
• Chawton Park Farm
• Land East of Horndean (Hazelton Farm)
• Land south east of Liphook
• Neatham Down
• Four Marks south
• Land west of Lymington Bottom Road, South Medstead
• South Medstead
• Land south of Winchester Road, Four Marks.

For more information please go to www.easthants.gov.uk/draft-local-plan

ENDS