Havant Local Development Framework (LDF)

The planning round has already started up again. No sooner was the Havant District Wide Local Plan (2005) completed and adopted last year than the Borough has started on its replacement, the Local Development Framework (LDF).

Instead of one Local Plan there will now be a whole series of documents. We have already had the Statement of Community Involvement, which sets out who will be consulted and how. The ERA submitted a 4-page letter commenting on this.

The Sustainability Assessment of the Core Strategy, which has just finished its consultation period, purports to establish the ground rules for assessing whether a plan is sustainable for future generations. The ERA submitted a 10-page document commenting on this.

Core Strategy Issues and Options July 2006 Consultation Paper

Now the first of the substantive documents in the LDF is being put together. The Core Strategy Issues and Options sets out the basis for more detailed decisions on seven key issues:

1. Sustainable Development

2. Local Economy

3. Housing

4. Improving Transport

5. Natural and Built Environment

6. Changing Coastline

7. Infrastructure/Community Facilities

The Core Strategy Issues and Options is the first of a set of three consultation papers on the content of the Core Strategy. Responses from the public will also be sought at the Preferred Options Stage (March 2007) and at the Final Submission Stage (November 2007).

Overview

The Core Strategy is being produced in accordance with Central Government policy and the South East Plan, which set target growth rates and specify the number of houses to be built in the region between 2006 and 2026. Each issue is discussed in its national, regional and local context.

Sustainable Development

Links issues together to try and improve the quality of life without damaging the environment. Covers topics such as Climate change, Waste and Recycling, Renewable Energy, Water Efficiency.

Local Economy

The South East Plan has set a target growth rate of 3.5% per annum by 2026.

Aspects discussed include: Types of Employment, Tourism, Retail, Town Centres and location of New Shopping Development.

Housing

The South East Plan sets a target of 80,000 houses to be built in the region over the next 20 years. 6,301 of these 80,000 houses are planned for Havant Borough.

The document states that a varying number, according to density, of the houses need to be built on Greenfield sites. We are asked to select areas for these houses and preferred densities in the questionnaire. See map and associated chart.

Improving Transport

Discusses the relationship between transport and where development should go. There are a wide range of ‘options’ to select from in the questionnaire.

Natural and Built Environment

Discusses the relationship between development and the natural environment.

Changing Coastline

Discusses flooding, coastal erosion and coastal defences.

The questionnaire asks questions such as ‘What should be done and should this be in the Core Strategy?’

Infrastructure/Community Facilities

Discusses a mixed bag including the location of education and health provision, open space and leisure.

The questionnaire has detailed questions about Havant Leisure Centre and some more vague ones about open spaces.

Final question

A rather small box is given at the end of the questionnaire for you to include further comments. You may of course decline to answer earlier questions in the way they are set out and give your views here instead. You are not obliged to keep your comments to the form and can write as much as you wish on extra sheets.

How YOU can become involved

The current round of consultation is to prepare the ground for a more boiled down document, which will be subjected to further consultation next year. So there will be further opportunities to comment, however the earlier in the process people get their comments in the more likely they are to have an effect on the final document.

Obtain and study the consultation paper and submit your comments.

You can view and download the consultation document and related papers at http://www.havant.gov.uk/havant-7157

Printed copies of the paper and the questionnaire can be obtain from Havant Borough Planning Policy and Urban Design Team, Tel. 023 9244 6538 or email: policy.design@havant.gov.uk . They provide one free copy to each organisation and charge £15.00 for additional copies. They ask people to download their own and print them if required as they do not have the resources to print hundereds of copies.

Completed questionnaires should be returned to the Planning Policy Team, Civic Offices, Havant, Hampshire PO9 2AX by 31 August 2006.

The ERA would also like to have your comments to help us put together their own response to the proposals. Please send copies of your comments by email to corestrategy@emsworth-residents.co.uk

Initial assessment of the Core Strategy Issues and Options consultation paper has brought to light the following major issues:

• Information provided is often inadequate and vague.
• Only option given for Broadmarsh is to develop it as a marina with a hotel and leisure facilities. The plan to establish it as a National Nature Reserve is being ignored.
• No mention of promoting Emsworth as a town centre with small specialist shops attracting people from a wide area.
• Question need for house building on ‘Greenfield’ sites.
• The proposed housing does not include enough ‘affordable housing’.
• Ranking ‘greenfield’ sites for potential housing development will only cause a ‘not-in-my-backyard’ response.
• No mention of improving the Borough’s cycle paths.
• Infrastructure and Community Facilities such as roads, hospitals, schools and other vital services are not being adequately planned for to cope with increased house building.

This list is by no means complete and will be added to and amended greatly over then next few weeks.

ERA planning policy examination team.