Planning inspector backs Lib Dem stance on Allington Lane MDA

12.00.03pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 22nd Jul 2005

Lib Dem Eastleigh Borough Council have blocked development in Allington Lane

A Government appointed planning inspector has backed the stance taken by Lib Dem-run Eastleigh Borough Council on its local plan. The report by the inspector comes after an inquiry in to the borough's local plan which proposed concentrating new development within the borough's existing towns and villages rather than building on the greenfields that surround them.

Responding to the report, Council Leader Keith House issued the following statement:

"At the end of last week the Planning Inspector's Letter following on from our Local Plan Inquiry was issued to councillors.

"I can now confirm that our staff having checked the detailed Report - which runs to 389 pages - the full document is available on the Council's website.

"The Inspector reached conclusions very broadly in support of the Council's position on all key issues.

"Despite the siren voices from the opposition parties here, and from the County Council, I can confirm that the Inspector has backed the Council's strategy of not proceeding with a Major Development Area south east of Eastleigh in our countryside.

"She said… "I support the Plan's strategy which generally concentrates baseline provision in and around Eastleigh instead of in a Major Development Area (MDA) to the south-east of Eastleigh. . . . And the MDA would almost certainly have discouraged brownfield regeneration that is evidently gathering pace in the Borough."

"The Inspector backed our well developed proposals for new housing primarily in the town centre and in other sustainable locations where development can help provide essential community infrastructure.

"Indeed, the Inspector singles out the Council's plans for the development of underused allotment sites for particular praise.

"She said… "In particular, I support the allocation of the allotments sites at Monks Way/South Street and Woodside Avenue in Eastleigh, although more work needs to be done to ensure that demand for allotments in the Borough is properly evaluated."

"Just as importantly, the Inspector agrees with the Council's analysis that delivering the Chickenhall Lane Link Road is "implemented for the benefit of the wider area". With 100 hectares of land available for development and redevelopment, achieving this missing link is now the Council's highest priority. We are working with landowners and SEEDA to find a route through the maze that has over many years stopped this essential road being provided.

"The Inspector recognised that delivery of housing in our area, and in Southampton, is proceeding ahead of Structure Plan expectations. Despite that enhanced delivery, she did though consider that provision should be made for some, but not all, of the Reserve site provision required by the County Structure Plan.

"My own view remains that delivery of housing across south west Hampshire will comfortably exceed the Structure Plan reserve figures, so the Inspector is perhaps being over cautious. However it is a step forward that she is recommending the Council identify 1155 units of reserve provision rather than 2500.

"We do need to be clear as to the nature of these sites, given that we have not as a Council identified them and do not believe they are necessary.

"These are sites that will only be allocated for development if the County Council releases them. These are therefore County Council development sites rather than Borough Council sites.

"The Inspector has suggested six sites that could be allocated to meet her target of 1155 units on County Council sites. Yet she also suggests that the Borough Council may wish to look at alternatives.

"All of these issues will require very careful consideration.

"We will be briefing councillors more fully on the Local Plan, and mapping out a way forward, at two seminars in September. These will be held on Tuesday 13 September at Hedge End 2000 Centre and on Wednesday 14 September here at the Civic Offices, and be open to members of our parish councils as well as Borough and County Councillors.

"What this Administration does not want to do is prolong the debate unnecessarily. As a result of the Inspector's suggestions for County Council development sites there will be uncertainty and concern raised across our communities. We will want to minimise this and will therefore be bringing forward proposals for consideration by Resources Scrutiny Panel on 11 October in advance of special meetings of the Cabinet and Council on 17 and 20 October respectively.

"Our intention will be to advertise our proposals in response to the Inspector's Report following Council on 20 October, with the aim of adopting our Plan finally in the spring."