Government view

Read the Government's description of the eco-town proposal. Is this the town you recognise as suitable for doubling its size?

Description

This is a large brown-field site in East Hampshire, adjoining Whitehill-Bordon to the west, on land vacated by the MoD, which will commence its withdrawal in 2012, leaving a significant amount of ex-MoD housing and other land. The local authority has a longstanding commitment to regeneration and renewal of the area and particularly to improve existing facilities. A wide range of stakeholders is involved in the scheme which is led by the local authority, the voluntary and community sector, and environmental bodies in partnership.

Proposed

benefits

A modern sustainable community of up to 5,500 homes with a new town centre,

employment opportunities and improved public transport.

Housing Affordability Pressure – Very High. The increase in housing supply in this location would provide around 2,000 additional affordable homes. Recent average completions of affordable housing in this LA have been 130 annually over the last 3 years and the number of households on the waiting list – 2,760.

Initial summary

of challenges

and constraints

The location will need an innovative approach to create a cost effective high quality public transport service given the lack of rail access and a diffuse local development pattern and highway constraints. The capacity of the location to attract additional employment will be an important consideration. Environmental constraints include the need to ensure additional water resources can be provided given that the Water Resource Zone may not have the necessary headroom and ensure that local sewage treatment capacity is adequate. Flood management issues must be addressed. Remediation of contaminated land must be carried out sustainably. Appropriate mitigation measures must be implemented to protect important lowland heathland SPA sites and Shortheath Common SSSI which borders the location.

Source: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/ecotownsprogressreport

But in 2005 Hampshire County Council, in concert with the Parnership for Urban South Hampshire and consultation with EHDC, published a consultation document of which the following is an extract

The Options in more detail...
Option 1 would see the development of 2,000 dwellings on the Winchester City (north) Major Development Area (also known as Barton Farm). There is a high demand for housing in Winchester and this option would provide a substantial number of new affordable dwellings. The site is a short
distance from the city centre. Good public transport is available in Winchester including a main railway station.

Option 2 could mean development of land at Andover which has already been identified in the Local Plan for possible development after 2011. The land is a short distance from the town centre. Good public transport could be made available and there is a railway station at Andover. This would be in
addition to the large amount of housebuilding already definitely proposed at Andover in the draft Local Plan;

Option 3 would mean 2,000 dwellings being built at Whitehill/Bordon where the Ministry of Defence may release surplus, mainly previously used, land for re-development. Housing development here would avoid the need to build on greenfields elsewhere. It could help provide the shops and facilities which the town currently lacks. On the other hand, the development might have a
detrimental impact on nearby internationally important nature conservation sites (Special Protection Areas). It is not yet certain that the Ministry of Defence will declare any land surplus and a decision on this is not expected until the middle of 2006.

Option 4 would involve some additional development at both Andover and Whitehill/Bordon, but on a smaller scale in each town than envisaged in options 2 and 3. The advantages and disadvantages would be similar to those in options 2 and 3, although a smaller amount of development at Whitehill/Bordon is likely to have less impact on the important sites for nature
conservation. On the other hand, it will not significantly improve shopping, other facilities or public transport.

Option 5 envisages the modest expansion of a larger number of settlements across the area, with the 2,000 dwellings spread as follows: East Hampshire District (600); Winchester District (600); Test Valley Borough (600); Basingstoke and Deane Borough (100); New Forest District (100)
All the options envisage little housebuilding in New Forest District, reflecting the extent of the New Forest National Park. Very few new properties are planned in Basingstoke & Deane Borough and Hart District as only a small part of each is within Central Hampshire and New Forest.

Bordon Area Action Group

for sensible planning