Government's consultation on planning runs until 23 September
The Government’s proposals on planning would lead to ‘unsustainable speculative development’ and undermine efforts to make an effective Local Plan in East Hampshire.
That’s the response we have sent to Westminster as part of a national consultation on planning reforms.
The Government has proposed that East Hampshire’s housing figures be ramped up by 86 per cent, from 575 homes a year to 1,074, but still does not take into account that more than half the district is protected from development by the South Downs National Park.
Read our consultation response
Cllr Richard Millard, EHDC Leader, said: “The government has provided no clarity or visibility on how we can meet these new targets or how we would match the homes with corresponding infrastructure.
“The significant increase in housing numbers and the revised requirements around housing land supply will reduce our ability to use Local Plans to set out what is built and where. This will result in unsustainable speculative development that will not deliver the infrastructure we will need.
“We are happy to play our part in delivering the homes East Hampshire needs to grow but these proposals will destroy the rural character of East Hampshire and put huge pressure on local services and infrastructure.”
The Government’s consultation runs until Tuesday 24 September and residents are encouraged to take part.
Cllr Angela Glass, EHDC Portfolio Holder for Planning, said: “We have submitted our response to the Government’s consultation on planning but you can take part too.
“The proposals it contains would create an incredibly difficult situation for us in East Hampshire and every voice helps to make that case.
“We know that homes are needed across the district but they must be more evenly distributed than is happening at the moment. Either the number of homes expected in East Hampshire must be reduced or the South Downs National Park must begin to take more.”