Developers’ wish list for new housing in Winchester district

Over the next 15 years house-builders want to erect 44,315 homes, or about 2,900 a year. Currently the area is seeing a fraction of that, some 650+ dwellings. It also does not cover the 40 per cent of the district that is within the South Downs National Park, between Bishop’s Waltham and Alresford.

The figures are revealed in the 310-page Winchester District Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment, better known as SHELAA. Cabinet on Tuesday approved it for publication.

The city council must draw it up, compiling a list of sites that developers say could be available for development. The council repeatedly stresses that it does not mean the sites will be developed, and inclusion on the SHELAA does not imply permission will be given.

Developers are eyeing land on the edge of most villages: some 8,257 homes are proposed for Micheldever Station as the Magnier family revives the 30-year-old new town plans.

The land between Winchester and Hursley is earmarked for 6,314 dwellings, Durley 4,157; Headbourne Worthy 2,711, Curdridge 3,223; Shedfield 3,176, Swanmore 1,122, Upham 1,042, Wickham 2,781 and Winchester 179.

There are 285 sites in the 310-page report including north of Barton Farm up to the A34; the MX circuit at Upper Farm, Headbourne Worthy; the whole of South Winchester Golf Club; Woodhams Farm, Kings Worthy.

Also on the list is the 84 hectares of the Sir John Moore Barracks due to be vacated by the Ministry of Defence and able to take 1,264 dwellings.

Bizarrely the Master’s Lodge of the Hospital of St Cross also features. Its garden could take 14 dwellings although the chances of getting such planning permission for such a listed building are remote.

The city council is itself suggesting the St Peter’s car park off Gordon Road in Winchester could take 30 homes. The car park, opened in the 1980s, was only supposed to be temporary before the land was developed.

The spotlight has been focused on development in the last few days with the release of a Government White Paper that proposes a radical overhaul of the planning system that has prevented over-development since the 1940s.

Winchester civic chiefs are preparing for major changes and halted their work on a new Local Plan.

The Government White Paper would transform planning and its critics say open the countryside to a mass of development. Land would be divided into three: one that would be protected, but the other two zones would have a varying degree of development.

Members of the public lobbied the Cabinet. Keith Gautier said it would be massive over-development around Swanmore.

Patrick Davies, a senior member of the City of Winchester Trust, warned: “This list will be used as a open invitation for some major developers to jump the gun to bring forward schemes. South of Winchester there is something approaching 7,000 houses. You have to be careful not to encourage development that is totally inappropriate.”

Tessa Robertson, of the Dever Society, and Andy Adams, of Micheldever Parish Council, spoke against the new town plan for Micheldever Station.

Tory group leader Caroline Horrill told Cabinet that the “Local Plan is in tatters. It feels like a complete shambles which makes us vulnerable as a district (to development). There is a Sword of Damocles hanging over communities and you have created fear among the public, whether a new town at Micheldever or 100 houses at Sparsholt.”

Cllr Jackie Porter, cabinet member for built environment and wellbeing, denied Cllr Horrill’s claim. She said the district would probably have to take more homes, possibly more than 400 a year extra.

She said: “I refute your comment that the plan is in tatters. Given the far reaching changes to the system being proposed under the consultation, and likely large scale increase in housing numbers for the district, we have no choice but to pause our Local Plan process. We need to carefully consider these consultation documents and will share our response for everyone to see. But if these proposals ultimately form the national framework, development of Local Plans will have to follow a very different path.”

Cllr Thérèse Evans, chairman of the planning committee, told the Chronicle: “It is a little early to say what effect this white paper will have on our planning system at Winchester City Council. Areas of concern for me are the likelihood of less affordable housing funded as at present and a probable increased number of homes. We currently have a good land supply and a workable and usable planning system.

“The government seem to be taking control away from local authority’s planners in favour of ‘zoned’ areas for development. It states that quality design is important but who will monitor that?”