THE PETERSFIELD Neighbourhood Plan has been acknowledged as one of the most complex anywhere in the UK and the largest and most ambitious of any town in a national park.

It has taken about three years to make it ready for next week’s yes or no vote and the cost, including the referendum and volunteers time in kind, is expected to be around £150,000.

This has been met by the South Downs National Park Authority, Petersfield Town Council and grants from a variety of sources including the Government.

Its evolution has been overseen by a steering committee made up of residents.

They have been aided by experts in urban development, national park advisers, and town and district councillors.

But it is stressed that the plan as it stands today, is the resident’s vision of how the town should grow over the next 15 or so years.

Steering group spokesman Jamie Matthews said: “Its development has been led by residents, supported by Petersfield Town Council, East Hampshire District Council and the South Downs National Park Authority.” Following a year of workshops, exhibitions and online consultation, the draft neighbourhood plan was presented at an exhibition in May 2014.

It has since gone through two formal public consultations, and an independent examination, as required under The Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012.

Mr Matthews said: “The vision for Petersfield will be delivered by a series of objectives and policies.

“These will cover community, business and retail, tourism, housing, transport, natural environment and built environment.

“Any future development should have to comply with these policies.

“These will enhance our community rather than leaving it open to the kind of piecemeal growth that may have occured in the past.”

Even though Petersfield is in the national park and has more protection from development than towns outside the park, Government policy has determined that a minimum of 700 new homes (there is no upper limit) must be built in the town.

Mr Matthews said: “The plan has allocated land for up to 805 new homes.

This includes a buffer if a particular site isn’t brought forward for development. Forty per cent of all houses will be affordable housing.”

Steering group chairman Richard Besant added: “One of the advantages of having a plan is that the town council will be able to keep 25 per cent of the Community Infrastructure Levy as paid by developers when they build new houses.

“This will be invested into local projects to enhance local community facilities.”

Also included are around 120 plots for self and custom build dwellings.

Mr Matthews said: “There has been a lot of interest in self-build style homes.

“This allocation will only be available to people with a local connection and who meet the relevant criteria.”

Developers applying to build on land allocated in the plan will have their applications decided, as before, by national park planners.

Residents are being asked to approve the Petersfield Neighbourhood Plan (PNP) on Thursday, November 19, in a town-wide referendum.

In a simple yes or no referendum, voters will be asked: ‘Do you want the South Downs National Park Authority to use the neighbourhood plan for Petersfield to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.’

A neighbourhood plan is a new approach to planning, setting out with residents’ approval where future housing, business and community-related developments should go.

The Petersfield plan covers all aspects of development and voting in the referendum will give residents the chance to decide what kind of town they want Petersfield to be.

The referendum will be run by East Hampshire District Council’s elections team.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm, and votes can be cast at The Air Training Corps HQ, Bell Hill Recreation Ground; Siward House (Day Room), Borough Road; The Community Centre, Love Lane; East Hampshire District Council, Council Offices, The Ante Room, Penns Place; and St Peter’s Church Hall, St Peter’s Road.

The PNP and other important documents can be found on East Hampshire District Council’s website by logging on to: www.easthants.gov.uk/electoral-services.