Contact: Laura McCulloch, ext 6901

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) That approval be given for the Chief Executive to conclude an appropriate legal Agreement with Bryant Homes Limited in relation to the implementation, at no cost to the County Council, of the approved highway works and the making of a financial contribution of £500,000 towards schemes identified and recommended in the Petersfield Area Transport Strategy and any other such works as may reasonably be required to benefit the site.

(ii) That, subject to the completion of this Agreement, East Hampshire District Council be informed that there is no objection to the residential development at land north of Ramshill, Petersfield.

2. Reason

2.1 To ensure proper access to serve the development and to secure an appropriate level of financial contribution towards the implementation of the Petersfield Area Transport Strategy (PATS).

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 None.

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 A planning application has been submitted by Bryant Homes Limited to East Hampshire District Council for the erection of 275 dwellings, of which 81 is affordable housing, on land north of Ramshill, Petersfield (see attached location plan). The site totals some 9.2 hectares and is located north of Ramshill on the B2070, approximately 1.2 kilometres north-east of Petersfield town centre.

7.2 The site's western boundary is formed by Petersfield Cemetery, while Kingsfernsden Lane forms the eastern boundary. To the north the railway line separates the site from the residential area of Reservoir Lane. Existing dwellings along Ramshill form the southern boundary.

7.3 The site is currently part of Skinners Farm. Two houses on Ramshill acquired by the applicant will be demolished to gain access to the site and gardens of adjacent properties have been purchased to achieve necessary visibility splays.

7.4 The site is allocated for residential development in the East Hampshire District Council Local Plan. The District Council supports this form of development on this site and has resolved to grant approval, subject to the conclusion of appropriate legal Agreements.

7.5 The local Member, Councillor J West, raises no objection in principle to the proposals.

8. Transport Proposals

8.1 Access to the site will be provided from Ramshill on the B2070, via a ghost island right turn junction arrangement. Emergency access will be gained from Kingsfernsden Lane. Pedestrian and cycle access will be gained from Kingsfernsden Lane and Skinners Farm Lane.

8.2 The proposed car parking provision for the site is 415 spaces, which equates to 1.5 spaces per dwelling. This is in accordance with Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 3 and the Hampshire Parking Standards and Strategy 2002.

8.3 The developer has produced a full Transport Assessment which has received County Council approval. In order to accommodate the development generated traffic and be able to access the site in a safe manner, the developer has agreed to carry out the following works:

(i) construct a new junction access with Ramshill, including associated works to the existing road to facilitate a ghost island right turn arrangement; and

(ii) amend the road markings to provide a ghost island right turn facility at the junction of Ramshill and Kingsfernsden Lane.

8.4 The developer has also agreed to make a financial contribution towards enhancement and improvement to facilities for cyclists/pedestrians and public transport infrastructure to provide links between the site, the town centre, local facilities including schools and in particular on Ramshill, as described and recommended in the PATS and any other such works as may reasonably be required to benefit the site.

8.5 PATS is a local transport strategy forming part of the Central Hampshire Area Rural Transport Strategy and was approved by the former Planning and Transportation Committee on 4 September 2000. The principal aims are to identify the transport needs of Petersfield and prepare sustainable solutions for meeting these needs. It also aims to identify ways in which developments can contribute to the strategies and to prepare a programme of improvements to build on the existing transport provision.

8.6 The contribution will be spent in accordance with the requirements of PATS, PPG3, PPG13 and County Council policies which seek to reduce the dependency on the car and provide choice for alternative means of travel.

9. Financial Implications

9.1 In the event of planning permission being granted the applicant has agreed, at no cost to the County Council, to implement the highway works as previously identified at a total estimated cost of £210,000.

9.2 The developer has also agreed to make a financial contribution of £500,000 towards enhancement and improvement to facilities for cyclists/pedestrians and public transport infrastructure to provide links between the site, the town centre, local facilities including schools and in particular on Ramshill as described and recommended in the PATS and any other such works as may reasonably be required to benefit the site.

7191/LJMcC