Grove Farm (Netherhouse Copse) development allowed on appeal
The planning inspector has granted outline planning permission to the Grove Farm (Netherhouse Copse) development, between Fleet and Crookham Village. This comes as a blow to those of us who oppose green field development, so our commiserations go to those most affected by this decision.
The full decision can be found here.
Impact of Grove Farm (Netherhouse Copse) decision
It is early days to come to firm conclusions, but here are a few thoughts:
- Costs. The appeal decision doesn’t talk about the costs of the appeal, but at the very least the council will have to meet its own costs. These are likely to be of the order of £100,000. This is a self-inflicted wound as it was the council itself that failed to make a decision on the planning application. This left the developer with little choice but to appeal on the grounds of non-determination.
- Local Plan. This decision adds 423 houses to the housing supply that weren’t in the draft Local Plan. Theoretically, this could free up other sites that are in the Local Plan. Of course, if the council adopts the new Government methodology for calculating housing need, we certainly won’t need a new settlement now, and it is questionable whether even Hartland Village will be required. [Update 2] The finding that the polices are out of date and the level of housing supply is irrelevant makes it imperative that the council gets the Local Plan and associated policies in place ASAP [/Update 2].
- Community Campaign Hart (CCH). This party will be particularly angry and disappointed at this decision. They also suffered setbacks with the recent decisions at Watery Lane, Crookham Park and Edenbrooke. However, to our knowledge, CCH have never challenged the ridiculous housing target. Now they are putting in place obstructions to brownfield development. Perhaps now is the time to rethink their strategy. They should focus on a sensible housing target and brownfield development.
We will provide further updates as we find out more information.
[Update 1]
Detailed findings from the Inspector
The decision rested on a number criteria. First, the inspector found limited impact on the Local Gap between Fleet and Crookham Village. Here is the Inspector’s summary:
Grove Farm (Netherhouse Copse) Local Gap decision
Second, the inspector found no grounds to reject the application based on highway safety:
Grove Farm (Netherhouse Copse) Highway Safety decision
Third, the inspector found it to be very significant that most of the policies that the council relied upon for its defence were out of date:
Grove Farm (Netherhouse Copse) Out of date policies
Grove Farm (Netherhouse Copse) Out of date policies
Fourth, the inspector didn’t determine one way or the other whether the council has a five year land supply. Essentially, the five year land supply is irrelevant.
Grove Farm (Netherhouse Copse) Housing Supply Irrelevant
In summary, the inspector found significant economic benefits, and that the potential harms would not outweigh those benefits.
Grove Farm (Netherhouse Copse) Summary of decision
[/Update 1]
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Sue, it’s a bit unclear. But Grove Farm is now extra supply into the LocalPlan, and Cross Farm has been withdrawn. It’s a net gain to the LP, so theoretically something else could come out.
But the bigger impact is the new Government methodology for calculating housing need. This cuts 4,000 houses off what was in the LP. If that new method is adopted, we might not even need Hartland Village until the 2030’s.
So if the LP is delayed until next year we will have to use the new methodology. Is that right? So that would be a good thing?
Why can’t all parties and action groups get together and ask Hart planners to use new methodology?
Heaven knows Sue. I think if they submit on 1 April as opposed to 31 March, they can use the new methodology. It isn’t as if they have a track record of meeting deadlines to defend!
David Turver why on earth would any of the parties not want to use the new methodology for Hart?
CCH are still desperate for a new settlement
David Turver I know, but it just doesn’t make sense even for them now.
I have learned through this process that common sense isn’t all that common!
How will this affect the process of the LP David? Will these houses need to be added in to the draft, and Cross Farm and 300 others taken out before it goes to next stage of process. Will there be another consultation ?
In other words, the Council is a sitting duck until it gets the Local Plan and associated policies in place.
And the presence or otherwise of a five year land supply is pretty much irrelevant.
Some killer findings in the decision. FIrst, the policies are out of date and so don’t carry much, if any weight.
Good bye crookham village!
Once the new sewage installation in Hitches Lane was complete I thought the Grove Farm development would proceed because one of the grounds for refusing the initial application was inadequate sewage provision. The revised application was submitted a matter of weeks after the sewage thing was completed – says it all really.
Yes, the Cross Farm situation is quite confusing.
I wonder why the developers withdrew the cross farm appeal? Based on an, admittedly quick read of the outcome of this, they probably would have succeeded. There must be something going on?
It was always going to be allowed. It was already written in stone. Those at the top have financial interests along with others. The whole debate and the appearance of a democratic decision is all a sham. It’s futile fighting it. Nothing comes in the way of profit, including the well being of an area and the striking beauty of our landscapes and wildlife. They couldn’t give a thought for any of that.
To be honest, whilst always wishing the opposite, I did always think this would be granted. The application was recommended by officers and the council didn’t make a decision on time.
Did anyone actually think it was going to be any other outcome them This? Lol