Planning Objectives 

Ideally send a printed paper copy with Reference code clearly shown and say I object to …… One letter is allowed for every adult in the household (but change the layout and words a bit !)

 Valid Planning Objections - be specific, factual and un-emotional, do not get political. 

Look at the Site Layout and Design Statement on EHDC web site. Discuss with others or contact Fight4Four Marks.  What looks odd, strange, not like that in real life ? Use your local knowledge about rise of land, flooding, earth, trees, hedges, etc. 

Planned development is out of character with immediate area, which is rural and semi-rural NOT town centre. Compare what is planned to ‘built form’ of locality.   

Planned development does NOT respect the quality of the local built environment. Look for building lines, garage positions, detached v terraced or semi-detached, two storey v bungalow 

Is the development a ‘windfall’ site – i.e not on the agreed local plan.

Density of building too high on limited site and so not in keeping with surrounding properties.  

Does the application make any assumptions that can be contested ? For example  one could be that because backland development has been allowed on the Winchester Road such development will also be readily accepted in other areas of the village. The Parish Council strongly dispute this. They have objected to all cul de sac type development off Winchester Road and in every case it was due to density of buildings and what that density does for the adjoining properties. Some, but not enough, were refused and some modified. Now seem to be aked to accept the same type of development on our minor roads and lanes destroying the whole essence of a rural village and turning it into an urban over spill area.

The Parish Council states that not all back gardens are suitable for this density of development. We accept that houses have to be built but not at the expense of destroying the very nature of the surroundings. Such developments will have a detrimental effect on the immediate surroundings and the precedents they create will completely change the ambience of living in a rural village. 

Density of buildings too high. PPG3 guidelines are for 30-50 per hectare BUT only if in character and if at places with good public transport accessibility such as city, town, district and local centres or around major nodes along good quality public transport corridors. 

What is site access road (or shared driveway like) ? What is splay of entrance ? What are sightlines ? Are there other drives, roads, footpaths, traffic hazards nearby.  

Traffic –consider  volumes, speeds,  on-street parking, more cars as poor local bus service, congestion at road junctions, lorries and other heavy vehicles present already, and school bus services. 

Utlities at full capacity – gas (OK), water – Farringdon pumping station failure in August 2006, electricity (occasional power cuts, at full capacity).

Services – shops, roads, car parks over-capacity

Schools– no spare places

Poor public transport services (bus timetables, end of service, weekends). No train service.

Limited local employment opportunities.  

Over-development of Four Marks / Medstead already – how many have been built already.  

EHDC Parish Housing survey – Four Marks needs two / three bed houses, not four / five bedroom ones. The Four Marks Parish Profile is based on the October 2002 Housing Needs Survey, The Joint Housing Register, and census and other information from Hampshire County and East Hampshire District Councils.  

Less than one and a half parking spaces per dwelling are provided 

PPG3 regulations are that up to 15 properties and less than 0.5 hectares requires no affordable housing. Over those thresholds 35% must be qualified affordable housing. Are developers doing a two-stage development to avoid this requirement ? 

New dwellings will overlook next door properties. Dormer windows or side wall windows especially. 

Is any extra noise or light pollution possible / probable ?

Where are refuse bins to be located ? If at front of site to prevent need for individual collection please raise hygiene issues. 

Nature – plants (bluebells / snowdrops), animals (bats, newts, badgers), and trees (Tree Protection Orders needed)

What doesn’t count as a Planning Objection

I am losing money as the value of my property will be reduced. 

We don’t need more houses in our lane / street / road  

It is a back garden not a Brownfield site – they are classified as such under current planning laws 

The density is too high – PPG3 guidelines are for 30-50 per hectare BUT only if in character and if at places with good public transport accessibility such as city, town, district and local centres or around major nodes along good quality public transport corridors. 

One and a half parking spaces are not enough for the site – this is a national and Hampshire minimum requirement  

It isn’t two storeys but three as it has bedrooms in roof with dormer windows – this is allowed and is government policy 

Background Points 

Government Policy is to build millions of new homes, over one million in the South East in the next 10 years -they have to go somewhere ! But the key objective is to use Brownfield Sites better. An ‘oversight’ has meant private gardens are included as brownfield. The advice of the Secretary of State at Department for Communities and Local Government Ruth Kelly as given in Parliament in June 2006, “Councils already had power to turn down inappropriate development in gardens ”, she said, adding: "There's no presumption that brownfield sites have to be built on."  PPS3 and PPG3 are planning guidelines – not mandatory rules

Density – government PPG3 guidelines are 30-50 per hectare BUT only if in character and if at places with good public transport accessibility such as city, town, district and local centres or around major nodes along good quality public transport corridors. 

Area (SE Region) and adopted District Plan (EHDC) allocates for 1996-2011 7,000 new dwellings to the district. Why are Four Marks and Medstead taking so many ?

Unless we object, EHDC Council may allow approval under delegated powers to the Planning Officer. This is usually used for extensions, conservatories and tree trimming, but if used for theee developers we lose out chance to fight them. If 51 correct objection letters are submitted for one application, it must be made a section 1 agenda item at EHDC monthly Planning Committee, with a 3 minute public objector slot to summarise the objections. 

If it is rejected by Planning Committee and / or by Planning Officer under delegated powers then developer can appeal to Planning Inspectorate. EHDC have more than two-thirds of appeals rejected by the independent Inspectors, so they agree with EHDC decisions !  It isn't always the Developer that wins.

EHDC Planning Officers and Councillors are there to help us, and will do so when asked. These people are very busy, and the Councillors are unpaid, so they appreciate efficient, single points of contact. They have seen and heard it all before, and recognize a well put case.