Summary of the EiP Panel's recommendations which affect Hampshire

Most of the South East Plan's proposals for Hampshire have been endorsed by the EiP Panel including the housebuilding figures for 9 of Hampshire's 13 councils.

The Panel support most of the draft Plan's region-wide policies subject to minor changes, but have concerns about housing and the economy. 640,000 new homes are proposed across the region during 2006-2026 instead of the 578,000 in the draft Plan - an increase of 11 per cent. Most of the extra housing would be in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Surrey. Hampshire's total would rise by 5 per cent from 122,000 to 128,300.

This increase is disappointing and is made worse by the Panel's recommendation to remove the proposal in the draft Plan that development should be conditional on infrastructure provision. The Government has refused to give any assurances on infrastructure funding for the already planned housing, let alone any additional homes.

The draft Plan does not quantify employment land provision except in Hampshire and Kent, which the inspectors feel is a major deficiency. They echo Hampshire County Council's call for an early Plan review to remedy this. Whilst supporting the principle of Strategic Gaps, they say the boundaries of Hampshire's existing Gaps should be reviewed.

South Hampshire

Few changes are proposed to the South Hampshire sub-regional strategy which the Panel say is based on "commendably thorough research". They endorse the economic growth target, the two proposed Strategic Development Areas (SDAs) and the housebuilding figures for all the South Hampshire authorities.

They agree that the pace of building in each SDA should be co-ordinated with the rate of infrastructure provision, and support the designation of 130 hectares of land at Eastleigh as the South Hampshire Strategic Employment Zone. The upgrading of the Southampton-Midlands railway line for larger freight wagons and the Chickenhall Lane Link Road are crucial transport schemes, the Panel say.

North Hampshire

The inspectors propose additional housebuilding in the Western Corridor and Blackwater Valley sub-region, of North Hampshire is part, in order to keep pace with predicted job growth. Most of this increase would be in Berkshire, but 17,300 new homes are proposed at Basingstoke 2006-2026 instead of 15,900 - a rise of 9 per cent - to reflect the town's recent designation as a Growth Point. The Panel back the draft Plan's housebuilding figures for Hart District and Rushmoor Borough.

The proposal for 40-60 hectares of new employment land in north Hampshire should stay in the Plan, the Panel say, but could be refined through further joint work by the County and District Councils.

Central Hampshire and New Forest

The Panel recommend that Andover should provide 600 more homes than in the draft Plan and Winchester an extra 1,800. 2,500 homes should be planned at Whitehill/Bordon on the assumption that surplus military land will become available. The Panel dismiss the idea, put forward by the EiP, of a new town at Micheldever Station.

View a more detailed summary of the Panel's recommendations as they affect Hampshire.