Groundwater flooding risks have caused East Hampshire District Council to refuse developer Redbrown’s outline planning application to build 156 houses in Holybourne.

The proposal for a site behind numbers 136 to 150 London Road was turned down by planning officers using their delegated powers.

It was a decision welcomed by the Holybourne Village Association (HVA), which said: “The Redbrown proposal for a large housing estate in the village of Holybourne has been refused by East Hampshire District Council planners due to concerns about the unknown nature of the groundwater flood risk.

“This decision was made following repeated concerns by local residents that the proposed development site would be on land with high groundwater and active seasonal springs and streams.

“Our local knowledge, including videos of previous groundwater flooding and the mapping of local springs, questioned the data and conclusions of both the hydrogeological assessment and the flood risk assessment commissioned by the developer Redbrown.”

The HVA raised these concerns with Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council, which led them to commission an independent review of the original hydrogeological survey.

In its statement to the Herald, the HVA added: “This highlighted significant errors in both the methodology of the original survey and its omission of other relevant local spring areas on the site.

“This means that the groundwater flood risk has not been properly assessed, rendering Redbrown’s current flood mitigation proposals insufficient and inadequate.

“On this basis, Hampshire County Council’s local flood team were unable to approve Redbrown’s flood management proposals and so the outline planning permission was subsequently refused by East Hampshire’s planning officers.”

Despite the refusal the HVA is still challenging East Hampshire’s responses to its other objections about “disproportionate” parking restrictions, the loss of the “cherished” Holybourne play park, damage to Holybourne’s conservation area and a negative visual impact on the Hampshire Downs landscape.

Cllr Don Hammond, who represents Holybourne on Alton Town Council, said: “After such a concerted local effort, this is a welcome decision for villagers.

“But we are disappointed that East Hampshire District Council have not accepted our other substantive objections, particularly to the egregious parking restrictions and road alterations that Redbrown proposes that would threaten village community life and local businesses.

“I think it likely that Redbrown will appeal. What is certain is that villagers and the Holybourne Village Association will continue to challenge East Hampshire's responses to all their other substantive objections.”

Residents surveying this stretch of London Road said it had enough room for 195 cars.

Redbrown proposed a 20mph limit in London Road, and just 62 parking spaces, to improve traffic flow.

This would make it difficult for parents to drop off and pick up at Andrews’ Endowed CE Primary School, despite Redbrown’s plan for 10 park and stride car park spaces.

Paul Basham Associates’ parking survey for Redbrown took place on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, when there were no events at the cricket ground, Holybourne Theatre, Kingdom Hall, Village Hall or Church of the Holy Rood.

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