Planning Appraisal Group - TrustNews Sep 16
In the June TrustNews I reported that the City Council had received from Linden Homes an amended outline application for development of the land at Pitt Farm (350 dwellings). I am happy to be able to report that this application has been refused. The reasons given to support this decision cover many of the issues that the Trust raised in its objection, but with reference to the relevant policies. Important in the decision are the fact that the site is outside the settlement boundary for Winchester, building here would alter an important part of the City’s setting, would cause traffic problems and there is inadequate provision for education. It is also key that Winchester is able to argue that it has adequately provided for an increase in the number of homes over the next five years and the homes planned for Barton Farm form an important part of this provision.
There have been changes to the way in which planning applications are handled by the City. These are designed to improve efficiency and the experience of those making the applications, but during the transition period there have been delays. One feature of the changes is that there is more dialogue between all interested parties before a decision is made. For us this has meant a period of very few applications coming through for review, followed by a deluge as extra staff were employed by the City to clear the backlog. Hopefully things are now back on track with an improved process, which from our point for view should mean more interaction with case officers. One outcome of this has been a better appreciation of the role that new legislation from Westminster (in the form of the General Permitted Development Order 2015) has played in increasing the size of permitted developments. So if you see more large dormers on rooftops please do not blame either the Trust or the City Planning Department; it is the effect of a change in central government policy regarding permitted development.
The Trust was invited to attend an exhibition of Winchester College’s plans to redevelop the southern part of its campus. This concerns the parcel of land bordered by Kingsgate Park, Norman Road, Kingsgate Road and St Cross Road, and involves construction of a new PE centre toward the middle of the site, a consolidation of parking and vehicle access toward Norman Road with Kingsgate being pedestrian only access. Those who attended were very favourably impressed by the quality of design and the thought given to the new layout for the site. This is a major undertaking for the College and will take several years to complete.