Eastleigh Borough Council Submits Local Plan

From Eastleigh Borough Council:

The Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2016 – 2036 was submitted to the Secretary of State on Wednesday 31st October 2018 for formal examination. It was submitted along with all the supporting evidence and representations that we received in response to our consultation on the Local Plan from the end of June to early August this year.

All the responses received are available to view here

Eastleigh will now await the appointment of the inspector and advice of the Planning Inspectorate on the programme for the examination process. The next stage is for the Inspector to review our plan submission and representations and the public hearings could begin as early as spring 2019.

The Inspector conducting the examination will consider the soundness of the Local Plan along with all the representations. The Local Plan sets out the Council’s policies on how land throughout the borough can be used until 2036 and will provide the basis for future planning decisions.

Council Leader Keith House said, “Taking the Local Plan forward helps ensure we get the right homes in the right places, deliver the infrastructure of roads, schools and facilities our communities need and protects vital green countryside and woodland gaps between our villages and towns.”

The public examination of the Plan will provide the opportunity for local people, groups, organisations and the Council to put forward their evidence in order for the inspector to get a clearer picture before making a final decision. The key things that the planning inspector will be looking for are:
• Have we got enough housing and employment space?
• Have we chosen sites that are most appropriate, based on the evidence?
• Can the development be delivered during the 20 years covered by the plan?

Consultation results in figures

Almost 1,200 people attended the 15 drop in sessions held over the summer
• 927 responses were received.
• 87% were from individuals, 8% from organisations and the remaining from agents on behalf of organisations.
• Most individual respondents were from Bishopstoke and Fair Oak & Horton Heath (39%) and parishes in Winchester district (37%).
• In total, over 12,700 comments have been received on the 109 policies with an additional 177 general comments.

Local Plan Programme Officer

The Council has now also appointed an independent Local Plan Programme Officer, Louise St John Howe, who will provide a liaison role between the Inspector,
the Council and participants in the examination process. For further information contact her on 07789 486419 or email louise@poservices.co.uk

For more information on the Local Plan or to sign up to our newsletter, please visit www.eastleigh.gov.uk/localplan2016-2036