📍 Current Status of the Planning Application:
| Stage | Status | Deadline | Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Committee Decision | ✅ Approved | Completed | Committee voted to approve, but not yet legally binding. |
| Decision Notice | ❌ Not Yet Issued | Awaiting S106 | No formal planning permission currently exists. |
| Section 106 Agreement | ⚠️ Still Outstanding | 30 April 2025 (official extension) | Must be completed before the decision notice can be issued. |
| S106 Final Deadline | ⏳ Soft Limit | October 2025 | Final fallback deadline unless explicitly extended by senior officers or councillors. |
| Judicial Review Window | ⏳ Not Yet Opened | Starts at Decision Notice publication | JR challenge can only formally start once the decision notice is published. |
What’s Happening Now?
Despite approval by East Hampshire District Council’s (EHDC) Planning Committee, the Beechlands Road planning application is not yet legally binding. This means the final decision notice hasn’t been published, and planning permission isn’t officially granted.
Why the Delay?
Before EHDC issues the formal Decision Notice, they must complete a Section 106 (S106) Agreement—a legal contract ensuring that developers deliver necessary infrastructure, affordable housing, or public open space. This crucial document is still outstanding, and EHDC has set a formal extension to complete it by 30 April 2025, with an ultimate fallback deadline of October 2025.
Parish Council’s Response
Understanding the importance of the situation, Medstead Parish Council has taken decisive steps:
- Legal Advice: They’ve decided to seek legal opinions from two independent sources:
- A Specialist Planning Barrister, who generously offered a free review of the Judicial Review grounds.
- The Hampshire Association of Local Councils (HALC) Planning Consultation service.
The Parish Council has promptly provided essential documents to the barrister.
Next Steps
The Parish Council will carefully review both legal opinions once received. This proactive approach ensures they’re fully informed and ready to respond swiftly and effectively.
What Does This Mean For Residents?
- Judicial Review: Residents still have an opportunity to challenge the decision. It’s important to note that a Judicial Review is not an appeal; rather, it examines whether the decision-making process was lawful and fair, rather than reconsidering the planning merits themselves. The Judicial Review clock only begins when EHDC publishes the formal Decision Notice.
- Application Vulnerability: If EHDC fails to finalise the S106 Agreement by 30 April 2025, the application risks lapsing unless officially extended.
- Stay Engaged: Community vigilance is crucial. Monitor updates closely, as the finalised S106 terms and conditions could still influence the local impact significantly.
As always, your active involvement and support remain essential. Stay informed, stay engaged, and remember—it’s not over until the final decision notice is signed and published.
Stay tuned to this page for further updates.