PLANNERS in East Hampshire are breathing a sigh of relief this week after the long-awaited Inspector's report on the South East Plan released on Wednesday recommended not to force even more houses on an area already under pressure. Planning experts at East Hampshire District Council were relieved to find that they are not expected to identify yet more land for additional houses. They are already worried that proposed new South Downs National Park boundaries could leave Whitehill, Petersfield and Liss out in the cold and facing the threat of more house building. The district is being asked to take an additional 2,500 on top of the 5,200 already earmarked in the current South East Plan. But these new homes will only be required if the Ministry of Defence has withdrawn from Whitehill and Bordon and major regeneration plans go ahead. EHDC planners believe their pleas to be treated as a special case were taken on board by the panel which has been examining the South East Plan. Head of planning development at EHDC Daryl Phillips told The Herald he was "cautiously optimistic" about housing numbers following the report published this week. But he warned that although the panel had recommended 10 per cent more housing across the South East up to 2026, the Secretary of State could still demand more. "We await his decision on the panel's recommendations with bated breath, but so far this is good news for East Hampshire." He said the panel had obviously listened to East Hampshire planners when they argued that the district faced special problems in finding housing land up to 2026. East Hampshire faced uncertainty over the boundaries of the proposed South Downs National Park and the future of its Areas of Outstanding Natural beauty. In addition there is uncertainty over future development of Bordon and Whitehill when the Ministry of Defence withdraws from the town. "The panel has recognised our difficulties," said Mr Phillips "and has particularly acknowledged the potential major gains in Whitehill and Bordon, an area that needs complete regeneration." Mr Phillips stressed that there were still concerns over infrastructure which would have to be addressed at the same time as housing development. "Obviously there is pressure on us to provide housing land, but in terms of principle, the panel recommendations are in line with what we expected." "We were satisfied that we could accommodate the 5,200 in accordance with our current strategy," said Mr Phillips. "The number was high but we can live with it, and although the panel has recommended another 2,500 these are specifically ring fenced in the event that the Bordon and Whitehill Opportunity becomes available." In the current South East Plan 28,900 new homes per year were planned up to 2026. This week's panel report recommends 32,000 per year which would mean a total of 640,160 new houses across the South East up to 2026, an additional 62,000. "The Secretary of State still has to agree these figures," warned Mr PHillips, "and although there is a 10 per cent increase recommended they are still below what the Government originally identified. The Secretary of State could still say 'I hear what you say , but we want more new houses' and so we are still holding our breath." Hampshire County Council said it was disappointed and angry following news that the long-awaited Inspector's Report into the South East Plan was recommending a higher house building rate than that contained in the draft South East plan. And leader Ken Thornber, vowed he would continue his 'Holding out for Hampshire' campaign and that vital infrastructure had to precede and not follow any new housing development. Although the inspectors' figures fall far short of the Government's intention to build three million new homes nationally over the next 20 years, he said they still meant that Hampshire will have to take even more houses. The county has been told to build an extra 6,300 new homes over and above the 122,000 houses already recommended for Hampshire in the 20-year period covered by the draft South East Plan. In addition to the 2,500 ring fenced for East Hampshire,Basingstoke and Deane will be asked to build up to 1,400 more, Test Valley up by 600 and Winchester a further 1,800 new homes over the life of the plan. No more houses have been recommended for the south of Hampshire. Mr Thornber, said: "As part of our 'Holding out for Hampshire' campaign we consulted residents and carried out comprehensive research to establish what the right level of development was for the region over the next 20 years. ""I am disappointed and angry that Hampshire County Council which is already taking the lion's share of new housing in the draft South East Plan is now being told to take even more. "Throughout our 'Holding out for Hampshire' campaign we have been adamant that Hampshire could not take more housing unless Government guaranteed adequate and timely funding for vital infrastructure. "Our roads are already near gridlock, our health and social services are buckling under the strain of an increasing elderly population, and our water and sewerage supplies are stretched to capacity.
