It appears that the Four Marks & Medstead ward is a victim of a fatal error in decision-making

Ensuring sustainable development should be the primary goal when delivering housing targets. Sustainable development means ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Granting permission to build on the basis that EHDC is failing to deliver within their target on proven housing land supply because EHDC has failed to complete work on the local development plan, without triggering a full EIA, can be considered a gross lapse in logic.

Such decisions undermine the principles of sustainable development and can lead to long-term negative consequences for the environment and the community. It is crucial that housing targets are met in a way that balances economic, social, and environmental considerations to foster resilient and thriving communities.

When a local development plan (LDP) fails to meet the land supply targets, and there is a need to grant planning permission for residential developments outside the existing LDP, especially in rural or village areas, such developments should be considered high risk.

  • Granting permission outside the LDP without thorough assessment undermines the strategic planning objectives set forth in local policies. It may also contravene national sustainability goals if the environmental impacts are not properly mitigated.
  • Developments that fall outside the structured LDP are at higher risk of being unsustainable due to the lack of integrated planning. Such developments might not align with broader sustainability goals, increasing the likelihood of significant negative impacts.
  • Developments outside the existing LDP can significantly alter the character and social fabric of village communities. These impacts need to be thoroughly evaluated to ensure that development does not detrimentally affect the quality of life of existing residents.
  • Villages and rural areas typically have less developed infrastructure compared to urban areas. This includes transportation networks, water and sanitation systems, healthcare, and educational facilities. New developments can strain these limited resources, leading to adverse environmental and social impacts.
  • Rural and village areas often possess unique environmental features, including biodiversity, landscapes, and ecosystems that are more vulnerable to development impacts. Developing outside the planned areas can lead to significant environmental degradation if not properly assessed.

Furthermore, the tilted balance is meant to ensure organisational continuity by allowing necessary development to proceed despite outdated policies. However, continuous reliance on this mechanism suggests a failure in the planning system, either due to local authorities’ incapability or unrealistic housing targets set without considering local circumstances.

Cllr Richard Millard, Leader of East Hampshire District Council, claims that “…the government’s brutal housing target which eclipses everything else in the Plan-making process. Forget the semantics that it is a ‘housing need’ figure; it is for all practical purposes a rigid target. We are not alone … It has been divisive, bruising and at times unpleasant. It has fractured communities and turned councillors against each other.”

If the East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) believes that the housing targets set for them are unreasonable or forcing them to deliver beyond their capacity, there are several avenues they can pursue to address and potentially challenge these targets.

The above statement by Cllr Richard Millard highlights a significant concern that the government’s rigid housing targets can create substantial pressures on local authorities.

It is most likely that this pressure led to inadequate care in ensuring that full Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) were conducted, resulting in significant expansions to villages without adequate consideration of sustainability and community impact.

Pressure to Meet Targets: The intense pressure to meet strict housing targets can lead local authorities to prioritise quantity over quality. This might mean rushing through planning applications and approvals without fully considering the environmental impacts.

Resource Constraints: Local planning departments might face resource constraints, especially when trying to balance numerous applications against tight deadlines. This can result in inadequate scrutiny of developments and a lack of comprehensive EIAs.

Political and Community Tensions: As noted by Cllr Millard, the housing targets can be divisive, creating political and community tensions. In such an environment, decision-makers might be more inclined to push through developments to show progress, even if it means overlooking thorough environmental assessments.

Fragmented Decision-Making: The fracturing of communities and division among councillors can lead to inconsistent decision-making. This fragmentation can result in a lack of a cohesive approach to sustainable development and environmental protection.

Incremental Development: Without proper oversight, there can be a trend toward piecemeal developments, which individually might not trigger full EIAs but cumulatively can have significant environmental impacts.

In conclusion, the need for sustainable development must remain at the forefront of planning and delivering housing targets. The continuous reliance on the tilted balance to compensate for failures in local development plans and housing supply targets is not only a gross lapse in logic but also a recipe for long-term environmental and community harm. The pressures faced by local authorities, as highlighted by Cllr Richard Millard, underscore the critical importance of thorough environmental assessments and integrated planning. Without these, the risk of unsustainable developments, especially in vulnerable rural and village areas, becomes alarmingly high. Therefore, it is imperative that planning authorities prioritise comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments and adopt a balanced approach that safeguards our environment and communities for future generations. Sustainable development is not just a goal but a necessary foundation for fostering resilient, thriving communities that can withstand the pressures of growth and change.

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