Planning in Winchester - TrustNews Dec 2003
The Trust Council was pleased to learn, in September, that amendments were proposed to the Shopping Policy in the Local Plan for Winchester to meet the objection lodged by the Trust.
The Policy Group has been very busy over the past three months. The publication of the Trust's document on the Implementation of PPG 3 in Winchester and representations made to the Principal Scrutiny Committee of the City Council may have had some influence on the Council's decision to hold two seminars on this subject in October. The Trust was invited to provide a speaker on both occasions when Michael Carden put our case most ably and received substantial support from the audiences. Further papers published and circulated to Councillors and Officer and the Trust appreciates the response published in a paper presented to the Winchester District Local Plan Committee on November 3rd. This Committee agreed to amend its policy to recognise the need for flexibility in applying the 30 dwellings per hectare criterion in the leafy suburbs.
The requirement set out in PPG 3 "to develop a shared vision with their local communities of the types of residential environments they wish to see in their area" will were necessitate the production of Neighbourhood Design Statements to be used as Supplementary Planning Guidance and this will require funding. We hope that the Cabinet and Council will make the resources available.
All the changes will be considered at a Council meeting on December 15th and thereafter will be subject to a six-week consultation period. The Public Inquiry will start in May.