Long Copse Lane is being compared with Greenaway Lane in Fareham where planning permission has been granted. The comparison is tenuous as Greenaway Lane is a cul-de-sac. Land & Partners continue to submit new documents to support their application for 210 houses to the North of Long Copse Lane. Despite the submitted local plan being withdrawn, the proposed development of 210 houses North of Long Copse Lane is still included in HBC’s 5 year housing targets. The developer continues to propose unsatisfactory solutions to the many problems that exist with this site, including those raised by statuary bodies. There is an ongoing debate on whether a stretch of LCL can be made wide enough to accommodate increased motor and pedestrian traffic. Both the developers and Hampshire Highways claim that a fair comparison is Greenaway Road in Fareham, despite there being no through traffic and not being used by horse riders. Please see the photograph below. Lack of a footpath in LCL would require pedestrians to take refuge in existing resident’s gardens with all the safety and legal hazards that entails. Suggesting that a footpath may be provided in the future, should more development be permitted in Long Copse Lane, cannot be considered a responsible solution. Hazards to pedestrians from traffic heading to Westbourne are a major concern but only Westbourne Parish Council seem willing to question the developer’s assertion that proportionately the development will result in less traffic travelling east towards Chichester. Disposal of waste water is a serious concern as the latest reports confirm that the remaining capacity in Thornham WwTw is now limited to less than 150 houses. This number reduces for every new property that is connected to the Thornham WwTw. Allowing development to proceed, even for a very small number of houses based on expectations or promise of some future increased capacity is not a responsible solution. The developers have proposed building a local sewage works for the development. This is not a solution that is likely to be accepted by the Environment Agency. On site treatment works have a poor record. The proposal to buy prime agricultural land from Stansted Estates and replace crops with trees, in a vain attempt to compensate for nitrates produced by the development, is not well publicised. It is questionable in light of the latest guidance from Natural England. There is likely to be a significant time lag of many years before there is any reduction in Nitrates reaching the sea, since the proposed tree planting site is on chalk soils. This problem requires discussion now and cannot be set aside for a later date. No matter how many times the proposal for a development North of LCL is reviewed, the same answer is reached, namely that the serious problems to overcome have no realistic or safe solution. The Case Officer is still accepting comments. To raise objections to the application email adrian.ellis@easthants.gov.uk quoting planning application APP/21/00893. Each individual in a household may submit their own objection.
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Residents of Long Copse Lane may have their Gardens and Parking Space Reduced to Accommodate Increased Traffic from New Development Land & Partners have submitted a raft of new documents to support their application for 210 houses to the North of Long Copse Lane.These now show the route pedestrians will be expected to take on Long Copse Lane when accessing Hollybank Woods. This will be of grave concern to the residents affected. In many cases the land is shown in their title deeds as being an integral part of their gardens. The Case Officer is still accepting comments. To raise objections to the application email adrian.ellis@easthants.gov.uk quoting planning application APP/21/00893. Each individual in a household may submit their own objection. The Planning Application For 9 Dwellings on Land Adjacent to 54, Long Copse Lane has been approved by the HBC’s Planning Committee. This to the anger of those residents close to the site. Their deputations to the Planning Committee had fallen on deaf ears. The approval has triggered a further application in Long Copse Lane which was logged with HBC in August 2021 but only released on 1 March 2022. This application could open the floodgates to further development to the north of the site and we would urge you to make your objections known. To find details on the proposals and to raise objections follow this link and search for APP/21/00991. On last inspection the Standard Consultation Expiry Date was showing as Friday 01 April 2022. You can also write to the case officer. Gary Christie Westbourne Parish Council met on the 10 March to consider their response. Concerns were expressed that the development would further erode the gap between Westbourne and Emsworth and would have an impact on the Southdowns National Park. Their main concern was the continued urbanisation of LCL and that the rural character of the lane would be lost. Cllr Richard Kennett has indicated his intention to object to the application, saying: “There is sketchy information at best – no evidence of what makes it ‘eco’. It also encroaches on the remaining green space between Emsworth and Westbourne.” We await the responses from our other Ward Councillor’s. Cllr Kennett has been trying to convince HBC to go back to Government to reduce the housing targets that have been imposed on the Borough. If successful this could allow inappropriate sites on LCL to dropped. |
We have sent a flyer to all Emsworth and Westbourne residents listing some of the issues. If you have not received yours yet a copy can be viewed here.
Havant Borough Council have been supporting and pursuing this major housing development on Long Copse Lane through the proposed new Local Plan for several years.
Today the Lane is enjoyed by walkers, horse riders and cyclists. It is a haven for wildlife including several rare breeds of bat.
This development if it goes ahead, will place more pressure on already oversubscribed services, increase traffic across the region and add further stress on the already overburdened Thornham water treatment plant. Inevitably causing an increase in the pollution of Chichester Harbour.
Yesterday, the Daily Telegraph reported that in his closing speech:- “Boris Johnson has said houses should not be built on “green fields” as ministers abandoned proposals for a vast overhaul of planning rules.”
We need to ensure this message comes across loud and clear to our Councillors.
We would urge you to raise an objection even if it is taken from our leaflet or from the growing list of objections already logged with HBC, follow the link below. This could be our last chance to influence decisions and we should insist that residents are listened to.
To find details on the proposals and to comment on the application follow this link and search for APP/21/00893. The comment deadline has been extended but don’t delay. You can also write to or email the case officer.
Adrian Ellis
East Hampshire District Council
Penns Place
Petersfield GU31 4EX
Email: adrian.ellis@easthants.gov.uk
The application has now appeared on the Chichester District Council website. You may also make your views known here. The comment deadline is imminent but even when past the number of objections will still be recorded and will put pressure on Councillors to reject the application. For residents of Westbourne email your ward Councillor Roy Briscoe to ask him to oppose the development. rbriscoe@chichester.gov.uk
Jeremy Bushell
Chichester District Council
East Pallant House
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 1TY
Email: jbushell@chichester.gov.uk
Despite their assurances to the contrary at the Local Plan Stage1 Hearings Land & Partners have submitted a planning application for H8 Land North of Long Copse Lane.
Over the coming days, the Save LCL team will be make strong representations that the application is premature and in addition scrutinise the proposal for further discrepancies. Should the proposal be approved the impact will be a significant disruption and loss to all of us, not just during the building phase but also when the site is fully occupied.
We would urge you to raise your own objections even if it is to restate an objection already submitted during the Local Plan process. This could be our last chance to influence decisions and we should insist that residents are listened to.
To find details on the proposals and to comment on the application follow this link and search for APP/21/00893. Any comments need to be made by Wednesday 6 October 2021.
If you need convincing that the developers are not true to their word, the following is a transcript of the developer’s commitment at the public hearings:
Land & Partners Assurances to the Government Appointed Inspector’s of the Local Plan
Jonathon Walters of Pegasus Group on behalf of Land & Partners the site promoter stated:
“We are actually in a process, we are largely finished our planning submission and we are actually ready to submit it. Naturally in terms of good process we are awaiting the outcome of the discussion and the EIP (Examination In Public) to see if here are elements we need to address and post that and further discussions with Havant, the intent is then to submit. So we are trying to do it the right way and not jump ahead of the planning process.”
If you need further proof:
The statement can be heard by following this link and playing the recording of Tuesday 13 July 2021, 1.30pm. The statement can be found 52 minutes and 30 seconds from the end of the recording.
The application from Land & Partners will be an outline application where they are seeking approval from HBC so they can have confidence to spend money on detailed planning. L&P are currently lobbying councillors to support their application.
As expected, the site development is presented in a very positive and ‘ glossy’ way but many of the claims are flawed and it is important that the Save LCL team continue to strive to get our viewpoint recognised by key influencers and decision makers.
To achieve this we are discussing the concerns with other affected groups, such as Westbourne Council, Havant Residents Association and our Ward Councillors in particular Councillor, Richard Kennet who has supported our campaign from the outset.
We will keep you all informed of the outcome of our discussions and let you know if there are more actions that supporters of our campaign can take.
In the meantime, we know that your responses to HBC and councillors can have influence and we ask you all to help by responding to the application on the HBC website. Please be clear that permission to build houses North of Long Copse Lane has not been granted. We are awaiting the recommendation from the inspectors, which should be available in the autumn.
Responding to a planning application is tedious and time consuming but your efforts are appreciated and a very big thanks from the Save LCL team for your continuing support.
Local Plan Hearings
The stage 1 hearing for the local plan concluded on Friday. SLCL provided comment on 4 out of the 5 days. (Monday morning, Tuesday afternoon, Thursday afternoon and Friday morning). Our aim was to cast as much doubt as possible in the minds of the Inspectors regarding the suitability of Long Copse Lane for the development that has been proposed. We would like to thank all those who spoke in support of LCL.
The Friday morning session was the one on which LCL received the greatest attention. The hearing were all recorded and can be found here.
The Friday morning discussion on LCL starts after 55 minutes.
The Inspectors are expected to publish their interim findings towards the end of the summer. No firm date has yet been given. We await these conclusions with great interest.
Planning Application on Land Adjacent to 54, Long Copse Lane
Following the hearings residents have updated their objections to the development. You may find these useful should you be considering your own objection. The document can be found here.
To find details on the proposals and to comment on the application follow this link and search for APP/21/00683. Any comments need to be made by Monday 26 July 2021.
The Government Inspector’s Stage 1 Hearing dates for the Havant Borough Local Plan have now been released. The hearings start on Monday 12 July though to Friday 16 July. We have submitted Hearing Statements and confirmed our availability to answer any questions posed by the Inspector.
It is only possible to take part in the hearings process if you had submitted comments as part of 2019 or 2020 consultations. However, for those who subscribe to Nextdoor you will know that there are other suggested ways to influence Government planning policy.
Housing development on green fields.
At last someone has found an effective way of resisting housing development in their area. Chesham and Amersham voters have shown how it can be done, it’s now up to us to put the wind up those MP’s sitting on cosy seats with large majorities. If you want to continue living in a green and pleasant land, you need to tell Gillian Keegan she will no longer be getting your vote if Boris and Jenrick persist with their bill to restrict local objections to planning applications.
Neil Burns Hambrook
For those of us in the Havant constituency Alan Mac is the local MP.
This is very much a live topic with a debate in the House of Commons today – Local involvement in planning decisions.
If you have concerns about the new proposals now is certainly the time to contact your MP. One way is via https://www.writetothem.com/. They provide guidance and keep a record of those MPs that fail to respond. There is a league table to shame MPs that choose to ignore their constituents.
Background on the latest Planning reforms.
BBC News – Government pushes Planning Bill forward as critics question ‘free for all’
Nextdoor – Housing development on green fields
In our last update in October we discussed the Government’s proposals to change national planning regulations and highlighted how detrimental they could be to our area. Since then there has been opposition by both MPs and Councillors across the South. Alan Mak MP and Cllr Hughes, on behalf of HBC, have expressed their opposition. We welcome the priorities set out in the responses from Alan Mak and HBC .The following references provide a link to their objections. Alan Mak (MP). Havant Borough Council.
As a result of such public statements, we have written to Alan Mak to ensure that he is fully aware that the principles outlined in his objections, are already being broken in the proposals put forward for housing development on land North of LCL (H8) which continue to be included in the Pre-Submission Local Plan. In the past he has always refused to be involved in the details of the local plan arguing that it was a matter for HBC. Given the concerns he has raised and the fact that Government Ministers from other parts of the country have taken action to oppose inappropriate development in their constituencies, we hope that he will now be prepared to engage with us.
The consultation on the latest updates to the Pre-Submission Local Plan ends at 16:00 on the 17 December 2020. HBC have tried to steer comments to the sections that were changed directly. We shall be making comments on the wider issues and have had confirmation from HBC that all new comments will be accepted and forwarded to the Government Inspector.
The two points we intend to raise are as follows:
- The slow rate of building on the Southleigh Strategic Site which is leading to increased pressure to permit development on inappropriate sites such as LCL.
- Growing concerns on the proposed solution to achieve Nitrates Neutrality and increased pollution of Chichester Harbour which is a site of scientific interest (SSI).
For example, it is likely that the LCL site will be connected to the Thornham Treatment Works, whilst the majority of new housing in the Borough will be connected to the Budds Farm Treatment Works which discharges beyond Eastney. The Thornham Treatment Works is already facing capacity problems.
HBC recognises that the LCL site (H8) is unsuitable and have imposed more constraints than on any other site in the plan. We hope that the Government Inspector will refuse the development when he makes his judgment. This is not likely to be before the end of next year. In the meantime, we must not relax and we are continuing to make our arguments against the LCL development to both our MP and Councillors.
On 9 September the full Council approved amendments to Pre-Submission Local Plan. The major approved change was the HBC solution to nutrient neutrality that could allow the restart of housebuilding.
We along with other residents groups had argued that additional significant opportunities had arisen since the plan was first approved for submission in January 2019, which should be used to avoid development on unsuitable sites such as LCL.
In the end HBC chose to take a very narrow view and only consider the immediate changes, however there is expected to be a public consultation of the amended plan in the near future. The nutrient neutrality scheme proposed by HBC has been very controversial and a number of groups are expected to oppose it during the consultation.
Of more concern are the proposed Government Planning reforms. Based on the figures from 2014 the latest projections for additional houses indicate that HBC will face an increase of 91% over the next ten years. This has been estimated as being a massive 105% over the actual demographic need for homes in the Borough.
Councils that had challenged Government targets have seen their numbers reduced. This in stark contrast to HBC who in a letter from the Council leader Cllr Wilson to Secretary of State said that he wished to exceed Government housing targets. We have already seen that an increase in targets has resulted in unsuitable sites like LCL which had been protected, added to the plan. With higher targets this situation will threaten other areas of the Borough.
There is an excellent initiative by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and summary of the issues from the Havant Civic Society.
Havant Civic Society – Call for action
Major Planning Reform CPRE Criticism
Government consultation on reform of the planning system
Ends 29th October
Lockdown is an uncomfortable way to start Spring 2020 but as the need for outdoor exercise became more urgent, Long Copse Lane was soon rediscovered for its welcoming environment and calming atmosphere. With the reduction of vehicle traffic, parents and children, cyclists and joggers felt safe to use the lane whilst maintaining social distancing.
Few residents would disagree that we live in a fabulous area. With stunning sea views in the South and an ancient wood in the North (which is accessible from Long Copse Lane). The sunny weather has helped to remind people of the value of these amenities
However, HBC activities on housing plans are restarting and once again the Save LCL team must actively participate in the democratic process, to try to protect the site from even more aggressive attitudes from government to meet housing targets.
The key objections to development on the LCL site continue to be sustainability, flood water disposal and increased traffic. These same issues appear in objections to other sites and the resulting council decisions do not always reflect the real situation experienced by local residents.
There is perhaps hope for change, arising from the recent refusal by Councillors on the Development Management Committee (DMC) to permit the building of 50 houses at Lower Road, Bedhampton (ref: APP/19/00427). A visit by councillors quickly showed that reality was very different from Hampshire Highways position that a pedestrian route on Lower Bedhampton Road, likely to be used by young children, is safe. After visiting the route, councillors disagreed.
In their decision Councillors also acknowledged that they had a duty of care to new and existing residents. They raised concerns over traffic safety, the loss of green space and the distance new residents need to travel to reach local services. All of those concerns apply to the proposed LCL site.
We still await the Mainland Transport Assessment. It is unlikely to provide detail on LCL but scrutiny is required to ensure that any negative consequences on the neighbourhood are identified. Traffic in LCL has increased recently as the road delays in and around Emsworth have increased. The LCL team will inform Hampshire Highways of traffic safety incidents. This is to ensure that Hampshire Highways are fully aware of the dangers and reality of current and future increased traffic on LCL.
The LCL site is an inappropriate location for housing since there will be no easy access to services. For example, there are no secondary schools in Emsworth. Travel distances will be lengthy and potentially hazardous.