West of Hook (Owen’s Farm) Original Analysis of Application

This is the original information provided when the West of Hook planning application was first submitted. The application has been revised and information about this can be found at http://hookdevaction.org.uk/westofhook/.

Map showing proposed West of Hook site

INTRODUCTION

We have now made an initial assessment of the 140 document application for this development and provide the following further information below:

  • Summary
  • Why and How to Object
  • Hart Local Plan
  • Detailed Objections

SUMMARY

Following extensive local consultation the way ahead defined in the draft Hart Local Plan is for a new settlement with a site for a new secondary school. It specifically states that urban extensions such as this one proposed for West of Hook are not necessary to meet the housing requirements.

Although this site has been considered for development by Hart better options have been found and thus it has not been included in the draft Local Plan because:

  • It is a greenfield site in the Hook / Newnham Local Gap
  • Newnham Road is narrow and totally unsuitable for the extra traffic
  • It does not provide  the required new secondary school

Hook’s infrastructure cannot cope with this development, in addition to the already approved planning applications for 700 dwellings and potential further developments of 1,800 at Murrell Green and office conversions numbering hundreds more.

The developer’s public consultation on the proposal received 240 objections – an overwhelming rejection by residents. However, not surprisingly, the developer persists with the application.

Granting of this application will cause infrastructure, (traffic, health, etc.), problems that will seriously degrade quality of life for everybody in Hook, Newnham and Rotherwick. Furthermore, it undermines the democratic Local Plan process. Hence we urge everybody to object.

WHY AND HOW TO OBJECT

Objections can cause planning applications and subsequent appeals to be rejected. A recent example is the Hop Garden application for 48 dwellings, which was rejected at appeal in 2015.

Objections can be submitted on the Hart website at the following link, where the planning application documentation can also be viewed:

https://publicaccess.hart.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=OWZDDNHZ0EL00

Unfortunately, the timescale is extremely short, with a deadline for submission of 1st November.

Please remember that everybody in the household can object individually and please encourage your neighbours to object. A detailed list of possible grounds for objection are given at the end of this article.

It would be great if we could really show Hart our disgust at this application by registering twice as many objections, 480, as the public consultation.

HART LOCAL PLAN

The current situation with respect to the Hart Local Plan is described below for your information:

  1. Hart has issued a draft new Local Plan centred around a new settlement of 1800 homes at Murrell Green with a secondary school and no urban extensions.
  2. Hart has recently held a public consultation on this draft but the results of it are not yet available
  3. The Winchfield developer is proposing a smaller new settlement that should overcome the difficulties that Hart believe existed with their original proposal
  4. Hence Hart is now considering two possible sites for a new settlement, Murrell Green and Winchfield, both with a new secondary school which is essential for the planned growth in Hook and Hart
  5. The West of Hook developer claims that Murrell Green is not feasible solution to Hart’s housing needs and West of Hook is a suitable alternative. There is no evidence to support this claim
  6. However West of Hook does not provide either sufficient homes to completely replace Murrell Green nor a secondary school
  7. Unless / until Hart officially changes policy with respect to a new settlement at Murrell Green it will be virtually impossible for Hart to refuse a planning application for Murrell Green
  8. Hence if West of Hook is approved there is a very high risk that Murrell Green could also be approved meaning Hook gets a further 1800 + 700 = 2500 dwellings in addition to the following planning applications which have already been granted, North East Hook 550 homes Reading Road 70, Brown Croft 60, Providence House 107. There are also many brownfield applications, office conversions and appeals in the pipeline, e.g. Rawlings site, more at Providence House, Europa House, Bartley House, Taylor Wimpey offices, Virgin offices.

DETAILED OBJECTIONS

You may wish to draw on HAAO’s suggested list of grounds for objection: follow this link

Objections can be submitted on the Hart website at the following link, where the planning application documentation can also be viewed:

https://publicaccess.hart.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=OWZDDNHZ0EL00

Thank you in anticipation of your support.