Chalk Hill Road Development Proposal.
Back in September Taylor Wimpey came forward as the developer looking to build on the land North of Chalk Hill Road and next to Jack Tricketts Field. Following a consultation, Taylor Wimpey have now put in their planning application. Their timing is, to be fair, very poor as they have seen the ‘Where to build’ consultation give a clear community view as well as the publication of the draft allocations plan which excludes this land. Taylor Wimpey are also the developer who have just seen their White Dirt Farm application rejected by East Hants. On this application they came under significant criticism for the quality and integrity of their community consultation and Taylor Wimpey again are clearly not concerned about working with the community view and looking to help us ensure new homes are built in sustainable locations.
The proposed Chalk Hill Road development is on gap land and is visible for miles in all directions, including from the South Downs National Park. It is also accessed via Highcroft Lane and then Chalk Hill Road, both of which are narrow and difficult to access with cars parked along the road. The 67 homes they are proposing will be an unwelcome addition to the open space, gap land and sky line.
Cllr Sara Schillemore, whose ward has taken the brunt of the unwanted planning applications, said “It is disappointing that Taylor Wimpey are looking at this land. The planning officers at East Hants have given Taylor Wimpey clear advice that we do not require this development to achieve our housing numbers, and with the Five Year Land Supply in place, there are better places to build where more sustainable developments can be created”.
Cllr Lynn Evans whose residents front the land said “It is very disappointing that this development is being pursued when the draft allocations plan is out for consultation and clearly identifies the Hazleton/Pyle Farm SHLAA as the allocation for 660 houses in Horndean. This is unnecessary and unwanted development.”
Nicola Stone, a local resident said that: “It is very disappointing and frustrating that the opinions of the majority of the people of Horndean are being ignored by large developers. It is an unnecessary race against the clock to approve more suitable and desirable sites. Unfortunately, if they win this and other unsuitable sites, then the beauty and desirability of this area will be destroyed forever. It is vital now that the whole community pull together to voice their concerns and show EHDC planners there are much better options and reject the outline plan.”
Vincent Gregory who is co-organising the ‘No To Chalk Hill Road’ campaign said that “Five Heads Road is very narrow and in places just single lane. The roads accessing Chalk Hill are fully parked with few passing spaces and incomplete footpaths. We know that Horndean infants and Junior school is already over subscribed and can not be extended, and this land which is important gap land provides a diverse habitat for local wildlife. We very much need EHDC to reject this application and welcome the draft local plan which specifically excludes this site”
The land is one of the SHLAA sites that was ruled OUT by EHDC when the draft allocations plan was prepared. This is now out at public consultation.
The key dates are as follows:
Consultation Start: 7th January 2015
Consultation End: 5th February 2015
Anticipated Decision Date: Early April 2015
If you would like to submit comments then there are several ways to do so. It is also worth reading more about ‘Material Planning Considerations’ before doing so to make sure the views you give are most useful to the planning officers.
Click on this link here to see the plans in full and make your comments online.
Please also let your ward Councillors know of any thoughts you might have so they can ensure they are raised with the case officers.
If you live in Murray Ward then contact Cllr Lynn Evans on lynn.evans@easthants.gov.uk
If you live in Catherington Lovedean then contact Cllr Sara Schillemore on sara.schillemore@easthants.gov.uk
Case officer is John Holmes and you can write to East Hants to make comments by sending them to: John Holmes, Senior Planning Officer, East Hampshire District Council, Penns Place, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 4EX. Please quote case reference 55505 or Chalk Hill Road
horndeanmatters 
Have any of these people building actually used any of the services that communities need before building more houses in these areas. The doctors and dental surgeries are at breaking point because no additional services are porvided when these housing estates are built. As for QA hospital? Well all I will say is they do the best with the staff they have!
Hi Sean, making sure that the services grow in tandem with development is key. We are soon getting a new larger surgery in the village that will cover the local needs, and if Land East Of Horndean is approved this comes with a primary school. The situation at QA does sound depressing and it is important more resources are brought in to deal with this. Guy.
Hi Guy, thank you for the update and information at this stage we need to ensure as many local residents voice their concerns/objections as possible – although from a public awareness I have only noticed 3 identical signs of this planning application on 1 lamppost at the entrance of Tarbery Cresent – so hopefully via your Blog and the Chalk Hill Facebook page enough people are made aware and pass on the word.
I found the following one pager on ‘Material Planning Considerations’ useful – ‘http://www.rtpi.org.uk/media/686895/Material-Planning-Considerations.pdf’ to focus on the best objections, although one of the non-material planning consideration is ‘previously made objections/representations’ which a number of existing objections refer to.
Based on the current timeline do you a view on when the 5 year supply plan will be publish as this would help close applications like this down ? Also when we may expect final confirmation on the land East of Horndean.
Thank you once again for your Blog.
Lee
Hi Lee, thank you for the link on material considerations!
We have just about enough for the five year plan depending on which ‘recognised’ method you use to calculate it. In two weeks we will have enough whichever way it is calculated but for the planing applications to count the section 106 agreement needs to be in place too so I would say in about 6 to 8 weeks time there will be a firm announcement, perhaps a little sooner.
Land East Of Horndean based on the comments that need addressing and current workload is likely to be heard mid March so this would be relevant to CHR. If more statutory consultees raise issues this might slip.
I hope that helps!
Thank you for the kind words about the blog!
Guy.
hi guy, thankyou for your post update taylor wimpey plans chalkhill rd.
Once again their is a possabilty if planning is granted,whats stopping them requesting planning in the
adjoining field. Enclosing catherington lith, and ecosystem. The EHDC / DEVELOPERS have been
nibbling away over the past 30 years to the green spaces. The wild life that used to be in the area
has disappeared deer rabbits & wild birds that used be here.
The local doctors are under great pressure to cope with Green lane developement, wilson homes
the Gales Brewery also the new Development next to Keydells. That land used to be a wild medow.
Hi Ralph. The allocations plan (see articles) shows the housing we need for our own needs (population growth, living longer etc) and this is at Land East Of Horndean. Let’s be confident that East Hants will look to refuse planning here as it is not an allocated site, in a gap and of landscape value.
If it were to be built on then I understand the same land owner owns a little bit more so this would be a risk, but again I would have confidence in EHDC that they will be able to refuse it.
Remember, the number of people confidently stating WDF was a ‘done deal’ that it had already ‘been given the nod’ so let’s support EHDC as they are doing everything they can to ensure housing goes in the right (or least worst) places.
The good news is that the vast majority of the field is owned by a different person, Jack Trickett, and he has indicated he has no interest in seeing it developed.
Guy.
Hi Guy, it would seem the games have begun I have just received notification (as I suspect others who objected have as well) that the planning application 55505 has now been amended by the developers to state ‘Residential development for up to 50 dwellings’ and the consultation period has been re-opened until 25th March – does that mean we all need to raise our comments (objections) again against this ‘PRE-DECISION AMENDMENT’ ?
After the effort of the EHDC and HPC to keep our council taxes down – it is nice to see external parties trying to increase them for us by trying to play the system and force unnecessary work !
Any guidance you are able to provide on how to address this would be greatly appreciated, as I feel if we do not keep shouting it will be get lost in the system.
Many thanks
Lee