TrustNews Mar 21

Revision of Winchester's Local Plan:

Strategic Issues and Priorities Consultation

Winchester City Council paused the review of the District‘s local plan last year to address the two government planning consultations but has now restarted the process, publishing a Strategic Issues and Priorities document on their website in the middle of February for 8 weeks of public consultation which closes on 12 April (see WCC link below). The Trust has formed a group to compose its response and members are encouraged to respond individually. To help with this, we will arrange to make our views available for Trust members before the consultation ends.

There has been a lot of publicity about 'Royaldown', a development of 5,000 houses proposed to the South West of Winchester. While any landowner can promote land for housing or economic development, and many do, such as the continuing idea of a new town at Micheldever, in my view it is highly unlikely that either of these will be selected given the reduced housing requirement for the District and the number of developable sites in Winchester, including Sir John Moore Barracks and the station and cattle market areas and the central area.

But the current consultation does not extend to individual development sites; sites will be considered later, so the speculation is likely to continue for months to come. This consultation sets out and asks questions about 9 different issues which should be addressed by the new plan and there are some broader questions like how development should be allocated across the District, excluding 40% of the area which falls within the South Downs National Park that has its own local plan. It is good to see that the effects of climate change are highlighted and run through the whole consultation.

If anyone has any comments or questions about the consultation please get in touch with us.

WCC link: www.winchester.gov.uk/planning-policy/winchester-district-local-plan-2018-2038-emerging/strategic-issues-document

John Beveridge