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See the Murrell Green section for details of the vast new application on the eastern edge of Hook. Deadline for comments is 13th August.

Hook Action Against Overdevelopment Position

Hart District Council had a Local Plan, supported by residents, which delivered their housing targets until 2032. Hart DC was exceeding delivery against that Local Plan. However, changes in Government Policy doubled the housing numbers overnight, allowing developers to claim that the Local Plan is not delivering and is therefore out of date. This has not only frustrated Hart District Council but has left residents fuming that they have wasted their time participating in a number of consultations and votes to adopt the Local Plan in the first place. Developers have seized the opportunity to submit applications at Owen’s Farm to the west of Hook (where a record 1,000 people objected) and now one of the largest developments Hart has ever seen for 2,160 houses at Murrell Green on the east side. Community-led planning has been thrown out of the window and we are back to the wild west in the planning world where every piece of green space now seems up for grabs. The Government policy has thrown the Planning system into chaos and we need to somehow help Hart regain control. Yet again we are being punished for having done the right things!

The development at Owen’s Farm is still awaiting determination.