Metis: the ‘brother from another mother’ of Bargate Homes/Vivid.

Standard Blood Donation = Development within the village settlement boundaries and/or included in the Local Development Plan.

Exceptions in Standard Protocol = Development not within the village settlement boundaries and not included in the Local Development Plan, permitted in cases of significant benefits if the impact can be effectively mitigated.

Blood Donation in Crisis Situation = Land ‘Donation’ under Titled Balance (Paragraph 11) => Permitted until proven guilty of adverse impacts that significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.

This letter to Damian Hinds MP calls for urgent support in implementing a profit cap mechanism in Section 106 agreements. Highlighting the critical need for sustainable development and protection of local communities, the letter emphasises the importance of addressing the concerns of Four Marks and Medstead Ward residents. It seeks to ensure that development benefits are maximised for the community while preventing exploitation by developers.

This publication calls for a repetition of the public consultation on the Local Development Plan. It underscores the importance of ensuring that community voices are adequately heard and considered in planning decisions. The request highlights concerns about the current consultation process and advocates for more inclusive and comprehensive community engagement to ensure fair and balanced development outcomes.

To effectively force a council to repeat the public consultation on a Local Development Plan (LDP) before and after the draft is published, you would need to engage with the process actively and understand the statutory requirements. Here are the key steps and considerations: Steps to Request Repetition of Public Consultation Material Considerations Public Involvement: … Continue reading How to Effectively Force a Council to Repeat the Public Consultation on a Local Development Plan (LDP)

To count towards the proven Five Year Housing Land Supply, planning approval must refer to land that meets certain criteria. These criteria include deliverability, suitability, availability, achievability, and compliance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Ensuring these criteria are met is essential for maintaining a robust and effective housing supply strategy that balances development needs with community and environmental considerations. This ensures that proposed developments are realistic, viable, and beneficial for both the local area and the wider region.

When opposing a development, particularly one that is outside the settlement boundary, not included in the local development plan, or being pushed under Paragraph 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), it’s crucial to focus on specific objectives. Development Outside the Settlement Boundary Objective: Emphasise the importance of preserving the designated settlement boundaries to … Continue reading Objectives of Public Objections to Successfully Oppose a Development

Visit our page to learn how to effectively comment on planning applications. Find out where to send your comments, what crucial details to include, and how to craft objections for the desired impact.

Visit our page to learn how to effectively comment on planning applications. Find out where to send your comments, what crucial details to include, and how to craft objections for the desired impact.

Water butts are large containers designed for collecting and storing rainwater, typically from the roof via downpipes. This stored water can then be used for various purposes, primarily in gardening and landscaping, to reduce the use of mains water. Key Features and Benefits Installation and Maintenance Water butts are a practical and environmentally friendly way … Continue reading Water Butts

Defra Biodiversity Metric 3.0 is a tool developed by the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and Natural England to measure and account for biodiversity losses and gains resulting from development or changes in land management. This metric is crucial for ensuring that new developments achieve Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), meaning they leave the natural environment in a better state than before.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a principle and practice within environmental management and planning aimed at ensuring that development projects leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was before. This concept focuses on enhancing habitats and ecosystems, thereby increasing biodiversity rather than just mitigating harm.

Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) are a collection of water management practices designed to mitigate the adverse effects of urban stormwater runoff and promote the natural water cycle. The primary objectives of SuDS are to manage surface water sustainably, enhance water quality, and provide amenity and biodiversity benefits. Key Components and Objectives of SuDS Common SuDS … Continue reading Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)

In many local planning authorities, including East Hampshire District Council (EHDC), certain types of planning applications are indeed referred to the Planning Committee rather than being decided by planning officers under delegated powers.

• For East Hampshire District Council, implementing a profit cap could be a game-changer.

• In the current state of the housing market, developers often prioritise maximising their profits over the needs and well-being of local communities.

• This approach is not beneficial for the region. It drains resources from certain locations, putting undue pressure on local infrastructure and services.

• Communities are left to deal with increased traffic congestion, inadequate public services, and environmental degradation.

• The rapid population growth in Medstead, for example, has resulted in an over 40% increase in the period from 2011-2021 due to piecemeal developments, exacerbating these issues.

This publication explores the urgent need for reform in Section 106 agreements by introducing a profit cap mechanism. Aimed at ensuring sustainable development and equitable distribution of resources, the proposal highlights how such a mechanism can prevent developers from exploiting regulatory loopholes for excessive profit, thus promoting fairer and more community-focused growth.

BASIS FOR FILING AN INJUNCTION

1. Non-Compliance with Local and National Planning Policies

• Basis: If the development proposal is inconsistent with established local and national planning policies, it can be challenged.
• Example: Proposals outside the settlement boundaries or not included in the local development plan.

2. Adverse Environmental Impact

• Basis: If the proposed development significantly harms the environment, natural resources, or local biodiversity.
• Example: Developments bypassing full Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA).

3. Insufficient Community Consultation

• Basis: Lack of proper consultation with local communities and stakeholders.
• Example: Developers controlling the narrative and not informing residents adequately.

4. Inadequate Infrastructure

• Basis: The local infrastructure cannot support the proposed development.
• Example: Increased traffic congestion, insufficient public services, and utilities.

5. Housing Land Supply Discrepancies

• Basis: Inaccurate or overstated housing land supply figures by the local authority.
• Example: Discrepancies highlighted by recent appeal decisions.

Planning applications outside the Local Development Plans and settlement boundaries in rural England can be approved based on several key factors:

The NPPF establishes a presumption in favour of sustainable development. When the local plan is outdated, this presumption is particularly significant.

By understanding the key material planning considerations, you can identify and focus on the most critical issues that the planning authorities must address.

By grounding your arguments in material considerations such as local and national planning policies, environmental impact, traffic and access, and residential amenity, you enhance the credibility and impact of your objections.

This structured approach not only makes your case more compelling but also ensures that it is taken seriously by decision-makers who are legally bound to consider these factors.

However, planning regulations often require developers to provide comprehensive information about the phases of a large development project if it is intended to be built in stages. For phased developments, developers typically need to submit a master plan outlining the entire project, even if detailed applications for later phases will be submitted separately.

Planning authorities and environmental regulators have the authority to enforce EIA regulations and can require a full EIA if there is evidence that a developer is attempting to circumvent the process through piecemeal applications.

Public consultation processes allow community members and stakeholders to raise concerns about potential piecemeal developments. Transparent disclosure of development plans ensures that any attempt to segment a project is visible and can be challenged.

The continuous expansion of the village raises significant safety concerns due to the lack of proper pedestrian infrastructure. The existing roads are not equipped to handle increased traffic while ensuring the safety of pedestrians, particularly older people and children. This issue is critical as it directly affects the daily lives and safety of the community. … Continue reading The continuous expansion of the village raises significant safety concerns due to the lack of proper pedestrian infrastructure

The proposal for a new development on a rural cul-de-sac road raises significant concerns regarding noise pollution during both the construction and operational phases. Rural areas typically enjoy lower ambient noise levels, contributing to a peaceful living environment. Introducing a new development threatens to disrupt this tranquillity, leading to adverse effects on the local community’s … Continue reading Proposed Development Impact: Noise Pollution

The continuous development in the village has raised significant concerns about the inadequate control over biodiversity. Despite numerous developments, the cumulative significance of these projects has not triggered a single full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This absence of comprehensive evaluation undermines the efforts to protect and enhance local biodiversity. Biodiversity assessments provided by companies hired … Continue reading Proposed Development Impact: Environmental Degradation Concerns – Conversion of Natural Land to Residential Use

In 2014, Hampshire County Council (HCC) Highways indicated that due to the number of SHLAA sites and the combined effects these developments might have on the A31 and the junctions of Boyneswood Road and Lymington Bottom Road, an EIA should be requested. Despite this recommendation, no EIA has been conducted in the village to date. … Continue reading Proposed Development Impact: Traffic Infrastructure Concerns

The “zone of influence of all development proposals” is a comprehensive concept that encompasses all areas affected by a proposed development. Properly identifying and assessing this zone is critical to ensuring that the development is sustainable, that all potential impacts are managed, and that the needs and concerns of all affected stakeholders are addressed.

The main goal of this law is to enhance transparency and accessibility in government communications, making it easier for citizens to understand and engage with administrative processes.

Settlement formats such as villages in South East England hold significant heritage value, especially in the context of increasing pressure for urbanisation. These villages often have deep historical roots, with their layout, architecture, and cultural practices reflecting centuries of tradition and community development. As urbanisation pressures intensify, preserving these village settlements becomes crucial for maintaining … Continue reading Settlement formats such as villages in South East England hold significant heritage value

Rural villages in Southeast England represent an important aspect of the region’s cultural heritage, embodying a rich tapestry of history, architecture, traditions, and natural beauty. Protecting and preserving these villages is essential for safeguarding their cultural significance and ensuring that future generations can continue to appreciate and enjoy their unique charm and character. Urbanising villages … Continue reading Prioritising new settlements and town extensions over significant extensions to villages promotes long-term sustainability by planning for future growth in a strategic and proactive manner

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.

The core aim is to promote sustainable development. Even if a development has some negative impacts, it may still be approved if the overall benefits, particularly in terms of sustainability, are deemed greater.

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.

Between 2011 and 2021, Four Marks & Medstead ward has experienced an unprecedented 40% increase in population. Despite this rapid growth, not a single full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted for any of the developments during this period. The combined impact of recent developments in the Four Marks & Medstead ward has been … Continue reading The absence of a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) during a period of significant population increase reasonably leads to the conclusion that the current EDHC planning application process appears to be unfit for ensuring sustainable development

1. Proposed Residential Development Outside Settlement Policy Boundaries
2. Proposed Development Impact: Traffic Infrastructure Concerns
3. Settlement formats such as villages in South East England hold significant heritage value
4. Prioritising new settlements and town extensions over significant extensions to villages promotes long-term sustainability by planning for future growth in a strategic and proactive manner
5. Proposed Development Impact: Environmental Degradation Concerns – Conversion of Natural Land to Residential Use
6. The continuous expansion of the village raises significant safety concerns due to the lack of proper pedestrian infrastructure
7. Proposed Development Impact: Noise Pollution
8. The absence of a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) during a period of significant population increase reasonably leads to the conclusion that the current EDHC planning application process appears to be unfit for ensuring sustainable development
9. It appears that the Four Marks & Medstead ward is a victim of a fatal error in decision-making
10. Continuous Engagement in Disengagement: A Failure of EHDC to Ensure Public Participation

The proposed development site is located outside the designated SPBs for Medstead. The purpose of SPBs is to clearly demarcate areas suitable for development and to protect the surrounding countryside from urban sprawl. Allowing development beyond these boundaries undermines the integrity of local planning policies. Expanding the village outside the SPBs contradicts these principles by … Continue reading Proposed Residential Development Outside Settlement Policy Boundaries

Despite EHDC’s obligation to ensure active public participation in the planning permission process, the current flawed system results in continuous engagement in disengagement. This paradox highlights the failure of EHDC, as the system intended to foster public involvement instead causes widespread disengagement and a state of social helplessness among the community. EHDC is required to … Continue reading Continuous Engagement in Disengagement: A Failure of EHDC to Ensure Public Participation

Pre-application consultations should be unbiased, transparent, and genuinely aimed at understanding and addressing the views and concerns of the community. This approach ensures that the feedback gathered is valuable and that the development process is fair and inclusive.

Instead, we are witnessing learned helplessness, a behaviour exhibited by a subject after enduring repeated aversive stimuli beyond their control.

These regulations aimed to enhance transparency and public engagement in the decision-making process.
Consultation should be conducted in an unbiased manner to ensure that the information provided is fair and can be accurately judged by the public, including those who are not experts.

Benefits:

• Protection of Countryside: SPBs help protect rural areas from inappropriate development, preserving green spaces and the natural environment.
• Focus on Urban Areas: By concentrating development within SPBs, local authorities can focus on revitalizing and improving urban areas, making better use of existing services and infrastructure.
• Clarity and Certainty: SPBs provide clarity and certainty for developers, landowners, and the public about where development is likely to be acceptable and where it is not.

The land availability assessment (LAA) is a technical study which informs the local plan. It assesses land for its development potential and forms the basis of a list of sites to be considered for allocation in the local plan.

Planning authorities are required to take into account all valid public comments and representations before making a decision on a planning application.

Distributing new developments to areas such as the North of England, Wales, and Scotland, along with government programs to make these areas attractive for professionals working remotely, could be a potentially effective strategy to address housing shortages.

1. Engage with Higher Authorities (Negotiation with Central Government, Seek Adjustments)
2. Provide Evidence-Based Justifications (Housing Needs Assessment, Capacity Studies)
3. Revise Local Plans (Local Plan Review, Community Involvement)
4. Utilise Legal and Planning Frameworks (Planning Appeals, Judicial Review)
5. Advocate for Policy Changes (Lobbying for Policy Reform, Collaboration with Other Councils)
6. Highlighting Negative Impacts (Environmental Impact, Infrastructure Overload)
7. Public and Media Campaigns (Raise Public Awareness, Public Petitions and Meetings)

The term “proven Five Year Housing Land Supply” refers to a measure used in urban planning and development to ensure an adequate supply of land for housing construction over a specified period, usually five years.

Housing targets are specific goals set by government authorities to ensure an adequate supply of housing to meet the needs of the population. These targets aim to address issues such as population growth, housing affordability, and urban development. Here’s a detailed explanation of housing targets: Purpose of Housing Targets Setting Housing Targets Housing targets are … Continue reading Housing Targets

The 5YHLS represents the quantity of land that has been identified as suitable and available for housing development over a five-year period.

If local authorities fail to ensure that new developments are built in line with sustainable development rules, there are several actions that can be taken to address the situation. These actions can involve legal, administrative, and community-based approaches.

Commissioning Independent Studies, Environmental Audits, Ombudsman Complaints, Regulatory Bodies, Judicial Review, Enforcement Orders, Public Campaigns, Lobbying and Advocacy, Media Coverage, Social Media, Collaboration with NGOs…

They exploit the characteristics and infrastructure of the village, avoid Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), and are ultimately destroying the very features they advertise to potential buyers.

Ask yourself, would you be aware of the development in the area if not for SMASH and other concerned individuals who strive to keep everyone informed? Remember, the mind is like a parachute—it only works when open!

Unidentified impacts, uncontrolled pollution, unplanned growth, service overload, displacement and disruption, cultural impact, missed opportunities for mitigation, and non-compliance could or should potentially result in legal repercussions for developers and local authorities.

Local authorities are generally legally responsible for ensuring that all new developments are built in line with sustainable development rules. It is crucial to urgently:

1. Conduct Post-Development Assessments.
2. Strengthen Regulations.
3. Subject the part of the East Hampshire Local Development Plan concerning the Four Marks & Medstead ward to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Addressing these oversights and implementing corrective actions is crucial for maintaining the village’s long-term health and resilience.

The purpose of a screening opinion is NOT to tailor information and argue AGAINST the need for an EIA.

Such abusive conduct is contrary to the principles of sustainable development. It raises serious concerns about environmental impacts and demands public opposition.

It is an initial assessment phase that helps regulatory authorities decide if the potential environmental impacts of a project are significant enough to warrant a comprehensive EIA.

The primary goal of an EIA is to identify and assess the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project and to inform the public and all other stakeholders about these effects.

It allows decision-makers to validate whether the proposed project would contribute positively to the community.

Understanding the distinction between “impact” and “effect” in the EIA process is crucial for conducting thorough and effective environmental assessments in the UK.

This distinction ensures that both the changes brought about by a development (impacts) and their specific consequences (effects) are accurately identified, assessed, and mitigated.

Just as organizations conduct root cause analysis to identify the primary contributors to defects, Planning authorities can and should conduct thorough assessments of national and local policies to pinpoint specific areas where improvements are most needed. This analysis can help streamline processes, eliminate redundancies, and enhance clarity and consistency in regulations.

While individual housing developments may have relatively small environmental impacts on their own, their collective impact when combined with other developments in the area is often significant. An EIA should assess the cumulative effects of multiple developments to understand their overall impact on the environment.

#cumulative-effects #infrastructure-and-services #environmental-resources #social-and-economic-impacts

By gradually expanding development in smaller increments over time, businesses or developers may seek to evade regulatory thresholds that would necessitate more extensive assessments or approvals, such as EIAs.

Developing new settlements with comprehensive planning and infrastructure provision offers a more sustainable solution by creating well-designed, inclusive communities that meet the needs of residents while minimizing strain on existing infrastructure.

Disrespecting the principles of sustainable development is an attack on the future of your children!
The project undertaken by the William Lacey Group in Medstead appears to align with a creeping strategy. They didn’t even bother to conceal their indecent proposal intention. They prepared a road between two of the housing units to extend toward the water tower, continuing with phase two of development right up to the very edge of the ancient woodlands.

The UK faces a heightened risk of monopolistic practices in its housing market. When housing is scarce, demand often outstrips supply, leading to intensified competition among buyers and renters. In such scenarios, developers and landlords may wield greater influence over terms and prices, potentially stifling market competition….WE CALL FOR A NATIONAL AUDIT of the new housing market!

COMING SOON!
… The EHDC Public Access, Planning Application and Consultation System – to put it lightly – has deficiencies. ..

2024/05/31: The ‘EHDC Public Access, Planning Application and Consultation System’ is currently down. There is no placeholder page to inform the public of the reason, and no emails have been sent to registered users.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) plays a crucial role in sustainable development by helping to ensure that proposed projects and developments are evaluated in terms of their potential environmental, social, and economic impacts before they are approved and implemented.

The Brundtland Report defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Developers often submit screening for EIA or OPA applications before obtaining the necessary permissions to commence construction…Regardless of their nature, all planning applications should be associated with a Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN).