2024 was another busy year for SMASH. 

We submitted comments to the government's new NPPF rules (National Planning Policy Framework) and the changes proposed to the East Hampshire 'Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan'  (LCWIP).

We made robust representations objecting to proposed new speculative developments at Beechlands Road for 70 houses and Lymington Bottom Road for 53 houses and we updated our report for the 95 houses behind Austen Fields. 

We also met with EHDC planners at their new HQ, attended Council planning meetings where applications were reviewed and attended the appeal meeting for Mount Royal, 60 houses Lymington Bottom (Gladman). We also lobbied our District Councillors, Parish Councillors and Damian Hinds MP.

In addition, we worked with other action groups including Fight4FourMarks and the A31 Alliance group which covers action groups from Ropley to Bentley who are working to reduce overall housing numbers in the EHDC emerging Local Plan.

Through our website, Facebook, Social Media and Petition pages we have endeavoured to keep you the local community informed of relevant planning issues. 

Looking forward the Government proposals for changes to the NPPF have now been published. 

EHDC like other Councils in the UK are preparing their responses and looking at how their local plans will be affected. EHDC housing requirements will rise from 575 pa to 1074 pa but this takes no account that 57% of the district is in the South Downs National Park (SDNP) which has very restrictive planning rules. 

This month the SDNP Authority will be consulting on their updated Local Plan. EHDC will be submitting a response to this plan including a robust challenge to their  proposed housing numbers of 60 p.a. EHDC believes that this figure should be considerably higher.  

If these proposed numbers are adopted then over a plan's period of 19 years, then the SDNP LPA will be required to build a total of only ca 1,140 houses whereas the EH LPA (the area outside the SDNP) will be required to build a total of ca. 19,266 houses. 

As there are very few brown field sites in this District then virtually all these new dwellings will be built on green fields in the countryside which we feel will significantly change the character of our rural area.

Our challenges for 2025 will include reviewing the impact of:

- new NPPF changes.
- EHDC updated Local Plan. 
- the possible creation of a new Unitary Authority (Hampshire County Council (HCC)       will discuss this at their Cabinet meeting on the 9th January)
-  more speculative housing applications as EHDC do not have a 5YHLS.

Again another busy year.

As always we will be seeking your help, support and cooperation in meeting these challenges as we try to Keep Medstead Rural.

Happy New Year