Saturday 15th August 2009

Local Plan Approved Reserve Site, North of Brislands Lane

As this is a Reserve Site in the adopted EHDC Local Plan, we have no choice about development taking place at some time in the future - so unfortunately we cannot object to it as an overall plan, only the details. 

This is only in a very early pre-Planning Stage. Although there may have been pre- application discussions (developers in consultation with EHDC, which is normal practice), there is no actual planning application made so far.

An EHDC Development Brief for developers is out for public consultation until 9th October. The Development Brief is prepared as additional planning guidance and sets out the way EHDC wishes to see the site developed with an emphasis on high quality and sustainable development. It will provide the basis on which  planning applications can be submitted and assessed.

During the Brief's consultation period anyone can make their views known about the Development Brief itself by 9th October 2009. Comments or questions can be made to either Four Marks Parish Council at their public open meeting on 9th September in the Village Hall at 19:30, or direct to EHDC on their web site under Planning or to us at Fight4FourMarks.    

EHDC Development Brief                       Reserve Site Map

Once the EHDC Development Brief is approved, it goes out to interested developers who may or may not make an application at any time in the future. Any such application will then be reviewed on it's merits, suitability and fit with the development brief, and made public for representations / objections in the normal way. Hopefully it is highly likely that any reputable developer will initiate their own consultation process with local residents, which Fight4FourMarks will campaign for and contribute to. 

At the well-attended Alton Area Forum meeting held in Four Marks in July, many people expressed concerns about any early release of this Reserve Site. These have led to some early discussions, involving a Brislands Lane residents group & Fight4FourMarks, with Four Marks Parish Council, EHDC Planning Officers, and our EDHC District Councillor Mrs Seward.

As this is a Reserve Site in the adopted Local Plan, we have no choice about such development taking place at any time in the future - so unfortunately we cannot object to it overall. Also due to central Government policy changes and some recent test Appeals that were lost, EHDC appears forced to accept any such Reserve Site applications as they are made (not as originally intended, only when planning quotas were not being met). Therefore EHDC has prepared the Development Brief as a pro-active first step to define what sort of development is suitable and the level of developer contributions to our local community & infrastructure.

Fight4FourMarks is a non-political campaigning group of local residents from all over the village, "Striving for fair and responsible planning in Four Marks and Medstead". We aim to support our Parish & District Councillors and the EDHC Planning Officers to get the best solutions for our community, and to offer advice to fellow residents who find the whole planning process a tortuous and confusing maze (as we did before we got involved !). Everyone is welcome to contact us to discuss your concerns or questions at fight4fourmarks@yahoo.co.uk

As, and when, any detailed planning applications for the reserve Site are made in the future, Fight4FourMarks will be active to ensure full consultation takes place with us all in the general public and that everyone is aware of the processes involved, which planning policies that apply and make sure the developer is well aware of the local community's feelings and objections to specific items in their plans.