ACTION NEEDED! Owens Farm Planning application for over 400 houses is now submitted. Objections needed by 6th February

Posted on Posted in All Developments, West of Hook - Owens Farm
This is the proposed area for +415 houses

We previously advised you of an impending planning application for 400 homes at Owen’s Farm, Newnham Road, RG27 9NG.

Outline planning application Ref:25/02564/OUT for 415 houses has now been submitted.

Full details are at: https://publicaccess.hart.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=T7J3OEHZGSH00

This impacts the whole of Hook with 1,000 more people needing schools, doctors and sewage management!

We are currently reviewing the application and within the next few days will send by email and post here details highlighting what we believe the main issues are.

However, as Owen’s Farm site has been subject to many unwanted applications in the past the issues will be the same and so locating and reminding yourself of past objections you have made will be useful at this point.

A development of this scale (about 80% the size of NE Hook close to Sainsbury’s) introduces 1,000 new residents , generating 1,000 more vehicle journeys and will impact the whole of Hook.

It raises serious concerns about traffic and highway safety, pressure on schools and already overloaded GP services, drainage and flooding, loss of greenfield land. It also conflicts with the Local Plan and Hook Neighbourhood Plan which support only sustainable, proportionate development that respects the village’s character and infrastructure limits.

The proposed single point of access into this site for over 400 new properties is a simple T-junction onto Newnham Road, a road with limited pavement, poor visibility and barely wide enough at this point for two cars to pass

Residents should also be aware that developers do not always build sites themselves. Once planning permission is secured, land options can be sold on to other parties, allowing the original promoter to bank significant profits, while the long-term impacts are left for the community to live with. This is the case with this site – no housebuilder is involved, just a development company looking to sell on a site at a large profit if planning permission were granted.
Low objection numbers is taken as support for the development so every objection counts if you wish to stop this development.

NEXT STEPS

  • HAAO will review all documents on the Planning portal and release our views within the next few days via email so keep a watch for any updates. However please do not let this stop you reviewing this extensive application as you may find issues that we miss.
  • Visit Hart DC website: https://publicaccess.hart.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=T7J3OEHZGSH00 for all documents related to the application as well as seeing comments posted by others. On the ‘Comments’ tab, you can enter your comments if you are already registered to do so with Hart DC. Else you need to register first – which is very straightforward – and then enter your comments. These need to be entered by 6th February
  • Please tell as many people as possible about the application and have them sign up to the Hook Action emails to receive updates (the link to do so is at the bottom of this mail)
  • Dig out any previous comments you have made on previous developments for this site as the issues will be the same. Those applications were in November 2017 and April 2021.
  • Comments are not limited per household — each member of a household may submit their own response, and each submission is counted separately. People who use the road, visit, pass through or any other interest in the impact of this development can also comment. Low objection numbers IS taken as support for the development, so truly every objection counts.
  • Look out for leaflets being delivered to houses across Hook
  • If you haven’t yet talked to us and would like to help distribute leaflets please email hookdevaction@gmail.com