HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE ITEM 8
15 APRIL 1996
HMS DAEDALUS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY: PROGRESS REPORT
REPORT OF THE COUNTY PLANNING OFFICER AND COUNTY
SURVEYOR
1. Summary
1.1 This report outlines the progress on the preparation of a
development strategy for HMS Daedalus and recommends a
continuing membership for the County Council on the Joint
Members' Group.
2. Introduction
2.1 HMS Daedalus, owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD),
comprises about 195 hectares of land. The site lies partly
in Fareham Borough (153 hectares) and partly in Gosport
Borough (42 hectares). The site has two distinct
characteristics - the airfield in the north and the 'built-
up' area in the south. Closure of the site for operational
activity is imminent. Most recent advice is that the MOD is
negotiating with Hampshire Police to operate and maintain the
airfield for a one-year period from mid 1996. A successful
outcome to these negotiations would permit current aviation
activities, including Coastguard search and rescue
operations, to continue for the time being.
2.2 The site is of strategic importance to South East Hampshire
and will require a long term vision for its potential to be
fully realised.
2.3 In November 1995 Gosport Borough Council sought the County
Council's cooperation in participating in a partnership with
the two Borough Councils and the MOD to prepare a development
and marketing strategy for the HMS Daedalus site. The
publication of a joint statement of intent would have a
number of benefits. Firstly, it would demonstrate that the
four public agencies were able and willing to deliver a clear
vision for the future of the site. Secondly, it would enable
all partners to share necessary staff resources and plan
activities. Thirdly, the partnership would add support and
credibility in promoting package bids with other funding
partners to invest in site infrastructure, for example
English Partnerships and EU KONVER II. Finally, the
statement would indicate agreed means of consulting local
communities and other business and interested parties.
2.4 We have represented the County Council on a Joint Officers'
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Working Group. The Group has met five times since January
1996.
2.5 An Action Plan for the development strategy has been
prepared. Key points are:
(i) 11 officers' group meetings are envisaged;
(ii) Member involvement is provided for through a Joint
Members' Panel and regular reporting to the County
Council's, Fareham Borough Council's and Gosport
Borough Council's planning committees (the County
Council was previously represented on a similar
Members' Panel by Councillors Collett, Harrison,
Leyland and Millard); and
(iii) it is hoped to publish a public consultation draft
in July 1996 and to finalise the strategy by the end
of the current year.
3. Planning and Transportation Objectives
3.1 From a County Council perspective, guiding principles for the
reuse of the site will need to be established on the basis of
the adopted Structure Plan, the Structure Plan Review and
local plan policies. The following strategic land use and
transportation objectives for the site have been suggested by
officers and are likely to be acceptable to other
participants:
(i) to provide new local employment opportunities;
(ii) to protect and enhance the Stubbington/Fareham/
Gosport strategic gap;
(iii) to protect and allow for the extraction of the
mineral deposit under the airfield;
(iv) to maintain the potential for continued general
aviation use of the airfield;
(v) to protect and maintain the historical character and
interest of the site, its buildings and other
features;
(vi) to assist in meeting Hampshire's housing needs;
(vii) to provide, where appropriate, sports and leisure
facilities of regional benefit and to enhance the
range of local facilities;
(viii) to achieve sustainability by allocating new
development such that the use of energy efficient
transport is encouraged while overall travel demand
is minimised and to contribute, where appropriate,
to the enhancement and improvement of the
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transportation network serving the site; and
(ix) to assist in reducing the levels of out-commuting
from the Gosport Peninsula.
3.2 We will ensure that these objectives are pursued in the
preparation of the development strategy. However, as the
Inspector's report on the Minerals and Waste Local Plan will
not be received until September 1996, it is possible that:
(i) the projected timetable will prove to be too
ambitious; or
(ii) proposals for the southern part of the site may
precede those for the northern (airfield) part of
the site.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that:
1. This progress report be noted and the County Council's
participation in the preparation of a development strategy
for the HMS Daedalus site be endorsed.
2. Four Members be appointed to represent the County Council on
the Joint Members' Group considering issues associated with
the HMS Daedalus site.
3442/RH/CJW
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