At the end of last week I was informed by EHDC that a pre application meeting had just taken place with Taylor Wimpey. This is for a SHLAA site we have not been aware of development interest in before and is on land the developer is describing as ‘Land Off Chalk Hill Lane’. This is a fenced off area adjacent to land we know as Trickets Field (Horndean Showground). This time Taylor Wimpey have spent considerable time preparing their plans to such an advanced stage that they expect to submit an outline application at the end of October, just 8 or 9 weeks time. It might seem that the very public and controversial application at White Dirt Farm may have left them feeling that minimum public exposure was best for them.
The proposals are for 73 units of which 30 would be affordable housing. Access is proposed to be via Chalk Hill Road and Highcroft Lane. The development plans border Bentley Close, Highcroft Lane, Chalk Hill Road and Catherington Lith Nature Reserve. The design would leave the risk of further development along the field.
Taylor Wimpey advise they will be holding a public consultation for interested parties. The date and venue is still to be confirmed, but it is expected to be around the 22nd or 23rd September. This time they are making a concerted effort to meet with the Parish Council as well.
The landscape of this site is key to the area with views of the 11th century church, extensive views across the south of Hampshire including the Solent from Hayling Island to Fawley and the Isle of Wight. These would be lost. As with White Dirt Farm this land is also Gap Land which Councillors fought to have protected in earlier versions of the local plan. It is worrying that this is another development in Gap Land, and on another site that the public consultation (LIPS) identified as having very little public support for development.
A copy of the plan for the site is shown below.
As a reminder I can not enter into debate or express views about the applications in my ward as I sit on the planning committee at EHDC, and to do so would jeopardise my position on the committee. At this time I have 5 major applications for 40 or more homes in both Lovedean and Catherington. I am keen to hear your comments on sara.schillemore@easthants.gov.uk but due to the extreme volume of applications and emails please forgive me if I can not respond with anywhere near the detail I would like to.
Cllr Sara Schillemore, Catherington and Lovedean Ward
Email sara.schillemore@easthants.gov.uk