REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

ENVIRONMENT - NORTH HAMPSHIRE AND SPATIAL STRATEGY

PART II

RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY FOR THE SOUTH WEST REGION

1 The Executive Member has considered the draft regional spatial strategy for the South West Region which has been submitted to the Government by the South West Regional Assembly. The strategy covers the entire area from Wiltshire and Dorset westwards, and clearly development and transport proposals in these areas may have an impact on Hampshire. The Council will be familiar with the process and timetable for the regional spatial strategy for the South East Region; the regional spatial strategy for the South West Region will emerge to a similar timetable, but a few months later.

2 The County Council's main interest in the plan relates to the proposals for development in South East Dorset, particularly Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch. In this area between 31,100 to 34,400 dwellings and 42,000 jobs are proposed, mostly within existing urban areas, but partly within an urban extension north of Christchurch. There are also proposals for modest balanced growth in jobs and housing in the Salisbury area. With regard to transport, the strategy identifies the route M3/A303/A358/M5 as a main strategic highway to be brought up to dual carriageway standard throughout. These proposals are likely to have an impact on roads in Hampshire, particularly the A31 and A35 in the New Forest and the A303 in Hampshire, and also perhaps some indirect impact on the M3 and A34.

3 The Executive Member has therefore made the following specific representations:

· Whilst broadly supporting the overall strategy, especially with regard to proposals for South East Dorset, the County Council believes that the plan should be strengthened by the inclusion of a policy that makes major development proposals conditional upon the timely provision of necessary infrastructure and gives recognition to the substantial funding support required from Central Government.


· The County Council is concerned that the general approach towards accommodating future travel demands, including that arising from major development, appears to rely almost exclusively on non-car modes of transport and on unspecified demand management measures.


· The County Council considers that the plan should incorporate a detailed list of critical transport infrastructure requirements, which is required to assess properly the implications of proposed major development.


· The County Council reiterates concerns previously expressed to strategic planning authorities in Dorset about the possible implications of development on traffic flows in Hampshire, and therefore reserves its position in relation to the appropriate scale of future development in South East Dorset, pending receipt and analysis of further technical information.


· The County Council proposes that the A34, via the A31/M27/M3, should be included in the inter-regional road network as a key link between South East Dorset and the West Midlands.

JONATHAN K. GLEN

Executive Member - Environment

North Hampshire and Spatial Strategy

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