I am very pleased to introduce the East Hampshire District Local Plan: Second Review. The Plan replaces the First Review and sets out the planning policy framework to guide and control development in the District in the period to 2011.
The publication of this Local Plan is the outcome of a long process which began in 1998. The Plan has been prepared with full public participation at each stage in the process. The local community, town and parish councils, residents, businesses, developers and other organisations have been actively involved in helping to shape East Hampshire's future.
Over the various stages of plan preparation about 9,000 representations were received. There was a high level of support for the overall strategy of the Plan which seeks to achieve sustainable development by meeting the needs of East Hampshire’s residents and businesses whilst respecting the character of the natural and built environment.
Over 7,000 objections were received. The Council held a Public Inquiry from April 2003 to May 2004 when all the outstanding objections were considered by an independent Government Inspector. The Council received the Inspector’s Report in April 2005. It contained his recommendations on where the Plan should be changed.
The Council considered the Inspector’s recommendations and published its Modifications to the Plan for public comment. The Modifications included most of the Inspector’s recommendations. The Council took account of the comments made on the Modifications and agreed the final version of the Local Plan which was adopted in March 2006.
The Local Plan Second Review provides a firm basis for the Council to make decisions on planning applications across East Hampshire.
I believe that this Plan strikes the right balance between the need to protect the character and quality of our towns, villages and countryside and the need to allow appropriate development to sustain the economy of the District and to meet our housing needs.However the process of local planning does not end with the adoption of the Local Plan. A new planning system was introduced in 2004 which allows Plans to be “saved” for 3 years from the date of their adoption – in our case to 2009. Each year the Plan will be monitored and reviewed. Once policies are implemented or become out of date, they will be replaced where appropriate through the preparation of Development Plan Documents. The community will be given the opportunity to be fully involved in the preparation of any future documents from the outset.
Councillor Patrick Burridge
Portfolio Holder for Development and Chairman of Development Policy Panel
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