Date: 12 November 2002 Item 8 Report by: The Hampshire Director of Environment, Portsmouth City Planning Officer and Southampton Executive Director of Development and Sustainability Written by: Stuart Roberts, tel 01962 846782 Purpose and Summary: This report is to brief Members on Structure Plan related projects not covered in other reports on the agenda. It describes progress on the South Hampshire and Blackwater Valley sub-regional studies, the home movers and business needs surveys, the checking of urban capacity studies and monitoring to guide decisions on whether to release any of the reserve housing sites, and the enhancement of Structure Plan information available on the internet. RECOMMENDATION: That the report be noted. 1. Introduction 1.1 This report describes the current work to implement and monitor the adopted Hampshire County Structure Plan 1996-2011. The previous progress report on these matters was presented to this Panel on 8 February 2002. This report also explains the stage reached on the Blackwater Valley and South Hampshire sub-regional studies. 2. Implementation 2.1 Implementation of the Structure Plan's policies is primarily a task for the local planning authorities in preparing local plans and undertaking development control. The strategic planning authorities assist this by producing Supplementary Planning Guidance, such as that relating to the implementation of Policy H4 (the reserve housing sites) and informal advice, for example the Guidelines for Urban Capacity Studies. Legislation also gives strategic planning authorities a statutory role in `certifying' a draft local plan as being in general conformity or not with the Structure Plan. 2.2 Since the last Panel report on these matters, in February 2002, the conformity of four draft local plans has been assessed. The County Council has deemed that the Basingstoke and Deane (first deposit), Gosport (first deposit) and Havant (second deposit) draft local plans are in conformity with the adopted Structure Plan, and that the first deposit draft Test Valley local plan is not in conformity, because it does not allocate any reserve housing provision. It is expected that in the coming months the second deposit drafts of the Eastleigh, New Forest and Winchester local plans will be dealt with. 2.3 Two specific initiatives are progressing which will contribute to the successful implementation of the Structure Plan. The first is the preparation of advice on the cost of new County Council infrastructure and services necessary for planned development, to be used in negotiating developer contributions (planning obligations). The proposed approach has been endorsed by the County Council's Cabinet and work is underway to refine and justify the amount to be sought towards various new infrastructure/services, eg schools, transport, social service facilities, countryside facilities, etc. It is intended to consult on the draft document early next year. Portsmouth City Council is preparing Supplementary Planning Guidance on planning obligations. This is in the context of encouraging urban regeneration and recognition of the high costs often associated with redeveloping previously developed (`brownfield') sites. 2.4 The second initiative is a database of examples - provided by the local planning authorities - of high quality, high density housing development within Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton. The database shows developers what can be achieved and demonstrates that higher density does not need to compromise design quality. Members will be informed when the database is launched later this month. Further examples will be added to the database over the coming months. 3. Monitoring 3.1 At its last meeting the Panel considered, and reached conclusions on, the inaugural Policy H4 Monitoring Paper which assessed the need to release any of the reserve housing provision set out in Policy H4. The next edition of this annual publication is now in preparation. It is intended to publish it in early December for public consultation. The paper and the comments received on it will be reported to the next meeting of this Panel. That meeting will be asked to make a recommendation to the strategic planning authorities on whether there is justification for the release of any of the reserve housing provision. 3.2 The preparation of that monitoring paper will be informed by the Low House Building Rate Study (see report elsewhere on the agenda) and by the results of strategic planning authorities officers' checking that the urban capacity studies undertaken by Hampshire's local planning authorities are robust and broadly accord with the Hampshire Guidelines for Urban Capacity Studies published in July 2001. A methodology for these checks has been agreed with officers of the local planning authorities and the task of undertaking the checks is now nearly completed. 4. Research 4.1 To assist the formulation of soundly-based new economic policies for the roll forward/review of the Structure Plan, a survey has been undertaken of the future expansion/relocation requirements of businesses in Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton. A questionnaire was sent to a structured sample of 2,000 businesses seeking information on criteria for location decision-making and growth expectations. The survey work was carried out by Hampshire County Council staff. The analysis of the survey results and preparation of conclusions was being undertaken independently by international property consultants King Sturge. 4.2 To gain a deeper understanding of the reasons for some of the key findings, three focus groups of business people were held in Basingstoke, Portsmouth and Southampton. The focus groups were independently facilitated and the results articulated into a report by MORI. 4.3 The findings of this Hampshire Development Business Needs Survey were launched at a Business Stakeholders' Workshop on 8 November 2002. The MORI report and an Executive Summary of the King Sturge report will be made available on the internet; a copy of both is being sent to each Member of this Panel. 4.4 Hampshire County Council has been analysing housing market trends since 1987 when it undertook surveys into market demand for housing. Surveys of the occupiers of new dwellings were carried out in 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1996. A fresh survey has now been completed. Using data from council tax records, a questionnaire was sent to a representative sample of those who moved home in the previous 12 months. This encompassed moves within the owner-occupied and rented sectors, and covered newly-built and existing housing stock. 4.5 The survey findings will provide information on where people have moved from, their previous tenure/living arrangements, reasons for moving, employment location and journey to work, and the extent to which their property meets their housing aspirations. This information will help with the preparation of soundly-based housing policies for the review/roll forward of the Structure Plan. The survey findings will be published in January 2003; a summary will be sent to Members of this Panel. 5. Information 5.1 The Government has set targets for local authorities to expand the amount of information they provide on the internet. The availability of electronic information about the Hampshire County Structure Plan - hosted on Hantsweb - has been improved during 2002. The whole adopted Structure Plan can now be viewed, together with a summary of the Plan, the Supplementary Planning Guidance `Implementing Policy H4' and the Urban Capacity Guidelines, on www.hants.gov.uk/structureplan. Work is underway to expand this further to include the Supplementary Planning Guidance on town centres, monitoring information, and the surveys described above. This upgrade should be completed and on-line in January 2003. 6. South Hampshire Study 6.1 Stage One of the South Hampshire Study was completed in early 2002. This comprised the analysis of facts and figures and the identification of key findings. A presentation on Stage One was made to the February meeting of this Panel. The Stage One report will be published at the same time as the Stage Two report. Stage Two is looking at how the area might develop in the future, based on a range of economic and population forecasts. A range of options is being developed to meet the future development and transport needs of South Hampshire. The outcome of Stage Two will be reported to the next meeting of the Panel. 7. Blackwater Valley Study 7.1 A similar sub-regional study of the Blackwater Valley is underway, an area which straddles the Hampshire/Berkshire/Surrey boundary and includes the main towns of Aldershot, Camberley, Farnborough and Farnham. Consultants Atkins and Ancer SPA are undertaking the study for the Blackwater Valley Network, which comprises the nine county, district and unitary authorities in the area. 7.2 The study is being undertaken in two stages. Stage One is the identification of what is distinctive about the Blackwater Valley, its economic prospects and key constraints on, and opportunities for, economic growth. It was reported to the Study Steering Group in late September. Stage Two will identify alternative conceptual options for future sustainable development and their spatial implications, together with their environmental and economic advantages and disadvantages. Stage Two is due to be reported to the Study Steering Group in mid-November. 7.3 The issues and options emerging from the South Hampshire Study and the Blackwater Valley Study will be part of the public consultation next spring on the roll forward/review of the Structure Plan. | 
