Hampshire County Council
Planning and Transportation Committee Item 5
8 September 1997
Daedalus Development Strategy
Report of the County Planning Officer and County
Surveyor
1. Summary
1.1 The purpose of this report is to update Members on the
revised Daedalus Development Strategy, which was subject to
public consultation during August and September 1996, and to
seek Members' approval for the document to be adopted.
2. Introduction
2.1 On 15 April 1996 this Committee resolved to continue the
County Council's involvement with the preparation of the
Daedalus Development Strategy working in partnership with
Gosport and Fareham Borough Councils and the Ministry of
Defence (MoD). A report on the draft Development Strategy
was considered by this Committee on 29 July 1996. During
August and September last year the document went out for
public consultation.
2.2 The publication of the draft Daedalus Development Strategy
resulted in 30 letters of comment being sent to Gosport and
Fareham Borough Councils and the County Council.
2.3 The letters refer to a number of issues but do not introduce
any new matters for consideration. There is considerable
support for the retention of aviation at Daedalus, including
support from the Hampshire Constabulary, a company interested
in buying the site and other aviation interests. The
Department of Transport emphasises that once a hard runway
has been removed there is no realistic chance of
reinstatement.
2.4 Many respondents support sport and leisure facilities, with
several proposing a sports academy.
2.5 Traffic problems in the area, existing and predicted, are
mentioned by many people, particularly those opposing
development. Most of those objecting to development refer to
housing, with 500 houses being considered too many, but some
oppose any built development (the draft strategy referred to
500 houses in the Gosport part of the site).
2.6 More detailed development briefs are suggested by some
respondents, with others suggesting updates relating to
minerals to reflect the Inspector's recommendations arising
from the Minerals and Waste Local Plan Inquiry.
2.7 The comments received did not, by themselves, justify any
significant changes to the strategy. However, minor changes
to the text have been made for clarification. Copies of the
revised Daedalus Development Strategy have been placed in the
Members Rooms.
2.8 Gosport and Fareham Borough Councils will be reporting this
document to their Members this month.
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3. Daedalus Development Strategy
3.1 The general principles for the redevelopment of the site (see
attached location plan) have not changed from the earlier
draft. The strategy divides the site into two parts. A
mixed use development is proposed for the southern built-up
part of the site and there are a number of options set out
for the northern part (airfield area).
3.2 The feasibility work for the strategy showed that the built-
up part of the site could accommodate up to 500 dwellings
providing a range of densities, including an element of
affordable housing. The strategy also proposes 53 units for
an institutional residential use, eg a nursing home; 30,000-
50,000 square metres of business development which could
create up to 1,500 jobs, thereby making a significant
contribution towards replacing jobs lost through the defence
restructuring programme; 2,000-3,000 square metres of
retailing (in 200-300 square metre units); an hotel and
3,000-7,000 square metres of indoor sports and leisure
facilities. Public open space would be provided in
accordance with the Gosport Borough Local Plan.
3.3 The consultation draft Development Strategy set out four
options for the airfield part of the site. These have been
retained in the final version of the document and are
broadly:
(i) retain the existing three runways;
(ii) retain the main (western) runway;
(iii) no airfield use; and
(iv) use for a specific occupier.
The main access to and from the site would be from the
northern part through Broom Way with secondary access
provided from Gosport Road.
3.4 A new section on implementation has been added. This
provides a greater degree of guidance to a developer than in
the earlier consultation draft. It sets out in a
comprehensive way what information the local planning
authorities will expect to accompany a planning application.
This section also sets out what contributions to
infrastructure will be required and where opportunities for
grant funding such as EU Konver exist.
4. County Planning Officers Comments
4.1 Since I last reported to this Committee about this site, a
number of matters have arisen.
4.2 First, the County Council received the Inspectors Report on
the public inquiry into objections to the Hampshire Minerals
and Waste Local Plan (HMWLP) in August 1996. The Deposit
Plan had identified the airfield part of the site as
Preferred Area 5 for sand and gravel extraction. The
Inspector concluded that there is a need for a new sand and
gravel extraction site in South East Hampshire and that
mineral working would, in principle, be environmentally
acceptable at Daedalus. However, he came to the view that
the uncertainty as to the future of aviation at the site and
its role in assisting economic regeneration needed to be
resolved before any part of the area should be identified for
mineral working, and therefore he recommended deletion of the
Daedalus site from the HMWLP. The County Council
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subsequently placed proposed modifications to the HMWLP on
deposit in March 1997, as approved by this Committee on 9
December 1996. These propose deletion of the site as a
preferred area, but the inclusion of a new policy (24A) to
safeguard it from development that would prevent or prejudice
future extraction of sand and gravel. This proposed
modification to the HMWLP also states that Daedalus will be
reconsidered for inclusion in the Plan as a preferred area
when the Plan is reviewed.
4.3 Second, to provide the partners with information (and to
accord with the findings of the Inspectors report) about the
viability of continuing aviation activity at Daedalus and the
scale of operation that would be required a further study is
being commissioned from aviation consultants. In December
1996 a Ministerial decision was made to allow the Coastguard
to continue its operations at Daedalus, therefore some
aviation activity will continue on the site. In addition,
the Home Office, on behalf of the Hampshire Constabulary, has
made an application to the Secretary of State for Defence
(March 1997) to purchase the main (western) runway. As yet,
no Ministerial decision has been taken. The brief for
consultants takes these factors into account and will
consider the operational needs of both the Coastguard and the
Hampshire Constabulary in its findings.
4.4 Third, at the request of the Economy and Europe Sub-Committee
a study is under way to re-examine the opportunities for
development created by the release of MoD sites. The results
of this study are not yet available. Nevertheless, although
the Daedalus site will form part of this study I do not
believe there is any scope for development over and above
that already identified in the strategy, which has been
developed in conjunction with Gosport and Fareham Borough
Councils and the MoD.
4.5 In my view, notwithstanding the matters I have referred to
above, I believe the Development Strategy is robust enough to
provide guidance to any prospective developer. It provides
clear guidance for the site whilst providing sufficient
flexibility to cater for a number of scenarios on the
airfield part of the site, which would include accommodating
the activities of the Police and Coastguard.
5. County Surveyors Comments
5.1 The strategy provides a useful guide to the transport
implications associated with the development of the Daedalus
site. It accords with the policies and transport principles
contained in the "Regeneration of Gosport" document. It also
complies with the more general aims of current Government and
Structure Plan policies relating to sustainable development,
thereby reducing the reliance on the private car as the
primary mode of transport.
5.2 The timing of the development of the site and other major
sites in the area will dictate what off-site works are
necessary. A full Transport Impact Assessment will be
required in association with any planning application on the
site.
Recommendation
That Gosport and Fareham Borough Councils and the Ministry of Defence
be advised that Hampshire County Council:
(i) thanks both district councils and the Ministry of
Defence for the opportunity to work with them in the
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preparation of the Daedalus Development Strategy;
and
(ii) supports the adoption of the Daedalus Development
Strategy which establishes the broad framework for
development at this site.
4161/KC/CJW
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