Contact: Steve Jenkins, ext 6907

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That approval be given for the Chief Executive to conclude an appropriate legal Agreement with David Wilson Homes Southern in order to secure a financial contribution towards off site transport improvements in the vicinity of the site.

2. Reason

2.1 To secure a financial contribution towards off site transport improvements which will improve access to the site for pedestrians, cyclists and users of public transport in line with Planning Policy Guidance Note 13 - Transport.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 The County Council could opt not to enter into a legal Agreement. This option has been rejected as it would deny the Council of the benefits of the off site highway contribution.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. Introduction

7.1 In 1993 Eastleigh Borough Council granted outline planning consent to the Secretary of State for Health for a residential development of 98 dwellings at Leigh House Hospital in Hursley Road, Chandlers Ford.

7.2 The site is located off the B3043 Hursley Road in Chandlers Ford. It is bounded by Cuckoo Bushes Lane to the south, Pine Road to the north and east, and by the B3043 Hursley Road to the west.

7.3 The outline planning consent was subject to the completion of an appropriate legal Agreement to secure off site highway works which were considered necessary at this time to access the site. These works consisted of a ghost island right-turn lane on Hursley Road. The legal Agreement was not concluded until 1997 and development has not taken place.

7.4 In May 2000 a further planning application for this site was submitted to Eastleigh Borough Council by the Secretary of State for Health. This application sought to extend the date for submission of a reserved matters application pursuant to the outline permission. The County Council recommended that the access to this site should be revisited. This was based on the amount of time which had passed since the outline consent was issued and in consideration of new transport and planning policies which aim to promote the use of alternative modes of transport, discourage the use of the car and reduce the amount of land take for highway purposes.

7.5 The local Planning Authority supported the principle of revisiting the access arrangements. It was agreed that the developer would investigate this further and submit an amended planning application to address the issue of access.

7.6 The site was then sold to David Wilson Homes Southern who assessed the potential to amend the previously agreed access. The developer also agreed to provide a financial contribution in lieu of the highway works should a revised access be acceptable.

7.7 The local Member, Councillor Davidovitz, although supportive of the proposal, has requested that the contribution be spent on local improvements after a period of public consultation.

8. Transport Proposals

8.1 The developer has submitted a Transport Assessment and has satisfactorily demonstrated that a simple priority `T' junction onto Hursley Road can be used to safely access the site. This new junction would not require any off site highway works and can therefore be secured by a planning condition rather than a legal Agreement. The new access will provide the main vehicular access to the site and tie in with existing footways on Hursley Road.

8.2 A secondary access is also proposed onto Cuckoo Bushes Lane. This access has also been agreed and will also tie in with an existing footway which connects to Hursley Road.

8.3 The developer has agreed to make a financial contribution of £135,000 towards off site transport improvements aimed at encouraging the use of alternative means of travel. This contribution was agreed in lieu of the requirement to carry out the previously agreed off site highway works which were no longer deemed necessary due to the redesign of the site accesses and in the light of current transport and planning policies which aim to promote the use of alternative modes of transport, discourage the use of the car and reduce the amount of land take for highway purposes.

9. Financial Implications

9.1 In the event of the planning permission being implemented the developer has agreed, at no cost to the County Council, to make a financial contribution of £135,000 towards off site transport improvements that may benefit the site.

7476/SJJ