Comment: Planning decisions in Test Valley

An interesting article in the Hampshire Chronicle by Charles Elliman asks whether Test Valley Borough Council councillors on the planning committee are “voting tactically” when considering planning applications.

He says that it appeared they were doing this “due to the likelihood of developers winning on appeal, following changes to government policy”.

TVBC has replied, rebutting the general accusation but admitting that “councillors are conscious of the major change in government policy in December 2024”.

Mr Elliman cites the recent Goodworth Clatford decision and the approval of 270 homes in Romsey as examples. Although, on a smaller scale he could easily have added Test Valley Farm. At that meeting Cllr Kirsty North, who is quoted in the article, observed that if they refused the application, any appeal would be won and that TVBC would have to pay the costs.

He also quotes a planning officer who said in effect that following the change in government policy, developers are now more likely to win an appeal against refusal.

It seems we are facing a triple whammy where planning applications are concerned:

• Increased housing targets from the government nudging the system to favour approval
• Cost-concious councillors wary of losing appeals
• At the Northern Area Planning Committee, a panel of councillors where those representing Andover constituencies outnumber rural ones 11 to 2

While this may bode well for Chilbolton Parish Council’s development plans, it also makes life easier for aggressive commercial developers. The question is will CPC’s plans be enough to fend off outside developers, as they have claimed?