LOCAL people are being given the opportunity to comment on changes made to the first draft of the Second Review of East Hampshire District CouncilÕs new Local Plan.

A revised version of the plan is now available for public viewing and a series of exhibitions are to be held around the district during February and early March.

With Alton set to take the brunt of East HampshireÕs new housing development allocation to 2011, it is hoped that as many residents as possible will register their views.

The plan, which will eventually guide development of the district until 2011, reflects a shift of emphasis in line with the governmentÕs commitment to promote urban regeneration and to increase density to 30 to 50 dwellings to the hectare, in order to minimise development of greenfield land.

As such, all local planning authorities have been directed to undertake Urban Capacity Studies to assess the potential for new housing development.

At the same time the Hampshire County Structure Plan Review has approved a baseline figure of 5,500 dwellings to be built in East Hampshire during the plan period (1996 to 2011), plus a further 1,500 on reserve sites, making a total requirement of 7,000.

The Urban Capacity Study indicated that land could be found for 2,200 homes within the districtÕs towns and villages which, taken together with existing planning permissions and allocations, leaves the revised Local Plan to find sites for a further 625 homes to meet the ÔbaselineÕ housing figure of 5,500.

Alton has two baseline sites - the first a five-hectare plot for 150 houses on the former Lord Mayor Treloar site, adjacent to the Westbury Homes development which will result in 183 new homes. The second is for 15 dwellings on the 0.5 hectare site at The Depot, London Road, Holybourne.

Four Marks is to provide 150 dwellings on a five-hectare site south of Winchester Road, while at Lower Farringdon 0.5 hectares at Farringdon Mill will provide for a further 15.

Petersfield has one baseline allocation, providing 90 houses on a three hectare greenfield site at Pennsfield, off Heathcote Road.

In addition to the ÔbaselineÕ developments, new housing sites are being proposed on the edge of towns and villages to meet the ÔreserveÕ housing requirement of 1,500 homes. Many of these sites will also provide additional community facilities, such as open space, playing fields, community buildings and doctorsÕ surgeries.

Based on government guideline, PPG3, which puts the emphasis on Ôplan, monitor and manageÕ, these sites will only be released for development if monitoring across the whole county shows a compelling need. According to EHDC principal policy planner, Alistair Speirs: ÒThis will depend on the amount of development that actually takes place on brownfield sites and on local plan allocations across Hampshire.Ó

Almost entirely on greenfield land, Alton has two sites - the first 150 houses on 4.9 hectares to the rear of Chandos Lodge and the Grange Hotel, Anstey Road - controversial in that it would serve to close the strategic gap between Alton and Holybourne; the second a four-hectare site at Cadnams Farm, Whitedown Lane, which is allocated for 135 houses, bringing with it concerns about development on rising ground on the edge of town.

Lymington Bottom Road at Medstead has been earmarked for 140 homes on four hectares, raising fears over increased traffic movement and pedestrian safety, especially under the railway bridge.

Considered a small but sustainable community, Bentley has been earmarked for 50 houses on 1.66 hectares of land to the west of Hole Lane, while Binsted is keen to develop a 0.5 hectare site at Clements Close to provide 15 affordable homes for local people.

The figures mean that Alton will provide 714 new homes - over 10 per cent of the total allocation for East Hampshire, with Four Marks and Medstead adding a further 379 to the local figure. Petersfield on the other hand will provide 398.

While the number of settlement policy boundaries has increased from 14 to 47, residents have been warned against complacency. Those villages with SPBs but with no major allocation cannot expect to escape development - the plan is to curtail development outside the boundary while inside the presumption is in favour of development.

EHDC leader Elizabeth Cartwright is keen that people should comment on the proposals. ÒThe Local Plan is a crucial document which sets out planning policies to protect and enhance the countryside and attractive towns and villages of the district. It also guides proposals for new development in the district until 2011 by designating sites for new housing, employment and community facilities.Ó

More than 5,000 comments were made on the first draft of the plan when it was published for public comment in October 1999. These have all been considered by the council and more than 1,000 changes made to take account of public comment and changes in national and county planning policy.

Locally the Second Review of the East Hampshire District Local Plan can be seen at the EHDC Information Office in Cross and Pillory Lane, Alton, with exhibitions being held from 3 to 8-30 pm at the following venues:

r Wed Feb 6 - Farringdon Village Hall.

r Wed Feb 13 - Wickham Institute, Binsted.

r Wed Feb 20 - Alton Assembly Rooms.

r Wed Feb 27 - Medstead Primary School (4-30 to 8-30 pm).

r Fri March 1 - Four Marks Village Hall.

r Mon March 4 - Bentley Memorial Hall.

Any comments on the changes to the plan should be made in writing to EHDC at Penns Place, Petersfield, Hampshire GU31 4EX by Thursday, March 14, 2002.

Comments will be assessed and further changes may be made. Any relevant objections for which no changes are made will be assessed by a government appointed inspector during 2003/4 with a view to adopting the new Local Plan in 2005.