Comments on local plan

I am writing to express my concerns and opposition to the planned development of 3,000 homes at Popham airfield that Basingstoke Council have added to their development plan.

• Basingstoke Council themselves say ‘due to it’s location in the countryside its development would not be in line with the borough’s current planning framework.’

They point to various major impacts from this plan:

The ancient woodlands that surround this site and its bio diversity, it is not sensible to think build 3000 new homes on a greenfield site can lead to a 10% increase in biodiversity in the area!

Landscape impact given the open nature of the landscape and size of development

Increased localised traffic

Lack of wastewater treatment capacity – considering the current state of UK rivers and streams and the current campaigning around water quality this has to be a major concern the site falls in the Solent and Southampton Water Special protection Area

• I would further point out that Greenfield development is the least sustainable way to meet housing need. There are more suitable development sites on the edge and within the current boundary of Basingstoke settlement policy boundary. These would not further put at risk the green gap between Basingstoke and Winchester as the proposed plans at Popham does. If Popham is built and the other proposed developments in the southwest of Basingstoke go ahead, the resulting urban sprawl will inevitably lead to pressure for development to expand into Winchester District, either via the new town or other development.

• The proposed scale of development is not appropriate to the site’s greenfield nature and will cause unacceptable harm in relation to the landscape

• It is an isolated site with no access to transport other than by private vehicle. This would cause increased traffic on the Overton Road and Larkwhistle Farm Road and through local villages, none of which are designed to accommodate high levels of traffic.

• Network rail and SWR have previously said that no more trains can stop at Micheldever Station due to network capacity constraints. The large number of extra commuters at Micheldever station would put additional pressure on the village due to available parking. 

• It would increase the pressure for a new town at Micheldever Station. The development at Popham is too small to make the schools, alterations to roads (including expensive changes to the A303) and other infrastructure financially viable for a developer. But by joining with the developer of the new town, infrastructure costs could be shared.

• The Government's policy 'Flightpath to the Future" makes repeated references to the vital importance of airfields, forming a critical part of national infrastructure.