12:29pm Thursday 10th June 2010
By Andrew Napier
Winchester civic chiefs are seeking a “big public debate” on the future of development in the city.
The new consultation comes as city councillors are poised to say they would reject plans to build 2,000 homes on Barton Farm.
Although a public inquiry in September will decide the fate of the scheme, the city council still has to decide its stance on the scheme.
The planning committee meets on Monday June 14 with recommendations from officers to reject the proposal.
A report to the committee states: “The city council is not satisfied that the local need for housing amounts to the compelling justification needed to justify the release of this reserve site.”
The planning playing field has changed drastically since the general election. The new coalition Government is scrapping regional housing targets, such as the South East Plan, that had placed Barton Farm in the firing line.
New council leader Kelsie Learney said it opened up the chance to look afresh at the future of Winchester, and respark the whole debate on controversial ‘step change’ that would have seen the city growing in size.
She said: “This will give us an opportunity to go back and ask people what they really would like to see, to have a big public debate about it. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to do that.”
Cala Homes was unavailable for comment.
For full story, see today's Hampshire Chronicle.
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