Planning Winchester's Future-Where are we now? - TrustNews Sept 12
A year ago I pointed out how confusing a time it was to explain for certain what is happening in strategic planning, both nationally and locally. Huge uncertainty remains but the Trust's Policy Group has tried to keep up with events and has made further representations to the City Council on the latest version of its Local Plan. This is against the background of the still awaited "final decision" from the Secretary of State on the appeal by Cala Homes on their application to develop at Barton Farm. We are now told that this decision will be made before the end of September.
To add further to the confused national picture there is on-going uncertainty about the abolition of "regional strategies", particularly on housing numbers. The Localism Act 2011 provided for the abolition of regional strategies in a two-stage process. The first stage, to remove the regional planning framework, took effect when the Act received Royal Assent last November. The second stage will be to abolish the existing regional strategies by secondary legislation. In a recent parliamentary answer it was stated "Any final decision on this must take account of assessments of, and consultation on, the possible environmental effects of revocation of each of the existing regional strategies." This has yet to happen!
Then at a local hearing in Winchester starting on 30 October the Council's full Local Plan will be examined by an independent inspector who will invite those he wishes to hear on the topics he selects for detailed consideration. The agenda for this exercise is bound to be significantly affected by whatever decision Mr Pickles will have made on the Barton Farm planning application the previous month.
The Trust is keen to be involved in this Local Plan examination which will lead to the adoption of a plan to guide the future of our City over the next 20 years.
Our latest evidence to the City has covered three different but related topics. This was required to relate to what we had said earlier but could take into account new events and the implications of the new National Planning Policy Framework. (Some 30 or so other interest groups and individuals have also now responded.)
The Trust was fortunate again to have Harvey Cole's advice, particularly on housing and shopping issues and we were therefore able to update our earlier evidence to question some of the Council's population and retail projections.
We have also stressed again our opposition to the Council's proposal to define Bushfield Camp as an "Opportunity Site" for development in the Local Plan. The National Planning Policy Framework has introduced a new way of protecting certain categories of open land from development. In our view Bushfield Camp appears an ideal candidate for designation as a "Local Green Space."
Our third proposal to the Council suggests that a new "Green Belt" should be designated on the north, west and south sides of the City. (Immediately to the east of Winchester is the designated South Downs National Park, whose purpose is to safeguard the natural environment and existing built heritage).