Concerns passed to Clanfield councillors about homes plan for farm

Concerns about fresh plans to build housing on farmland between three villages dominated a recent meeting in a South of Butser community.

As previously reported by the Post, Hallam Land is developing proposals to build up to 135 homes on White Dirt Farm between Horndean, Clanfield and Catherington.

An application has yet to be submitted for the sloping 9.7 hectare site but the prospective developers have launched an initial consultation.

The scheme, which will include 40 per cent affordable housing, was the big talking point when Clanfield’s district councillors held their monthly surgery last Tuesday.

Cllrs John Smart, Chris Tonge and James Hogan heard plenty of concerns from residents about the “infill” development during the well-attended meeting in the Clanfield Centre.

“We’ve been here before as a proposal for this site was turned down in 2014 due to the ‘significant harm’ the development would bring to the district,” said Cllr Hogan.

Councillors heard concerns about flooding issues in and around the site between Southdown Road and White Dirt Lane, and the extra pressure that development will put on roads, schools and village surgeries.

More than 500 homes could potentially be built around Clanfield with plans also afoot to build on Charity Farm and Sunderton Fields.

Cllrs Smart and Hogan, who both sit on the EHDC planning committee, told attendees that East Hampshire currently doesn’t have a local plan or enough land available for development, so there’s been a few opportunist applications.

“There is a presumption in favour of sustainable development for any proposal, so it means that most of these will proceed,” said Cllr Tonge.

Residents have until this Wednesday to comment with more details at www.northhorndeanconsultation.com

Alternatively, email [email protected]

The next Clanfield district councillors surgery will take place at 6.30pm at the Clanfield Centre on November 3.