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Developers driving 'express train' through planning process




Lack of Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan to blame

The lack of a Local Plan for the borough is allowing developers to “drive an express train” through planning processes, threatening villages and open countryside, according to Highclere councillors.

The issue arose after parish and borough councillors voiced their opposition to a proposed development on the A343, Andover Road, on land situated opposite the Red House pub, during a recent Highclere Parish Council meeting.

Parish councillors agreed to oppose the proposals to erect two detached houses with parking, turning, amenity space and new vehicular access with associated works, and which were this week pending consideration by planners at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC).

Reasons included over-restricted sightlines and accidents, owing to vehicles exiting the site on to the busy A343, an arterial route between Andover and Newbury, which is very often crowded with HGVs.

Parish and borough councillor Graham Falconer (Con, Burghclere, Highclere and St Mary Bourne), said: “In my view it would be a very dangerous exit going on to that road and the sightlines should be extended at either end.”

Two villagers neighbouring the site, who attended the meeting, were also opposed to the plans owing to overlooking.

However, parish councillor Horace Mitchell pointed out this did not constitute grounds for refusal.

He said: “One can’t object to the fact they spoil your view.”

Councillors did strongly object to the development in principle, owing to Highclere’s lack of a settlement policy boundary (SPB).

“If you don’t have a SPB it’s called countryside – we are sitting in countryside,” continued Mr Mitchell, a former borough councillor, who chaired the borough council’s development control committee.

If the parish council did not object to the proposals, he warned, it could set a precedent.

He said: “Any empty space could be built on in the village.”

Mr Falconer then highlighted the wider issue of the lack of a Local Plan for the borough of Basingstoke and Deane, which he said was “was allowing developers to drive an express train through planning regulations”, with no respect for SPBs.

He added: “They (developers) are saying there’s no Local Plan overarching from Basingstoke and Deane, therefore we (developers) can do what we like.”

Mr Falconer also said that the countryside in North Hampshire, including Highclere’s green spaces, was coming under an increasing threat of development, despite plans for massive housing development around Basingstoke.

He said: “They [planners] are looking to build additional houses in other places like Highclere.”

He added it would be the spring of 2016 at the earliest before the borough’s Local Plan was finally approved, after first going to the Government planning inspectorate for approval in the autumn.



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