East Hampshire plans faster Supplementary Plan alongside Local Plan
East Hampshire District Council says it will pursue a Supplementary Plan on design, carbon, water and green spaces while a full Local Plan takes at least 30 months.
East Hampshire District Council said on 11 September that it will move ahead with a faster-track Supplementary Plan rather than wait for clarity from the Government on planning and local government reorganisation.
What the council announced
The council said that after years of work on its Local Plan it was forced to restart under new planning rules in May. It said further uncertainty over the timeline and structure of local government reorganisation complicates long-term planning. Its Supplementary Plan will address immediate priorities including sustainable design, carbon emissions reduction, water management and green spaces, which the council says residents have identified as important.
The council will at the same time continue preparing a full Local Plan, which it expects to take at least 30 months under the Government's new planning system.
Council Leader Cllr Richard Millard said: "Angela Rayner may be able to put LGR on hold. She cannot put East Hampshire on hold."
Background
In an earlier letter published on 12 August, the council said it announced in May that it would not meet the Government's local plan deadline of 31 December 2026, choosing instead to wait for the new system.
The release covers the whole district, and does not name Horndean or any specific site. Local plans set where new homes and other development can go, so the outcome will matter to the Horndean area over time, but the council has not published site details in these items.
Where to read more
The council's statement is on the East Hampshire District Council website. The August letter is also published on its news page.