News: Community Development Committee holds inaugural meeting

The new sub-committee of Chilbolton Parish Council tasked with bringing forward plans to build 10 “downsize” homes held its inaugural meeting last night. Community Development Committee elected its officers, reviewed its terms of reference and appointed working parties.

As the first order of business, Cllr David Hall was elected as Chair. Neil Connor was elected as Vice Chair, and Peter Collis was elected as Secretary to the group.

Cllr Hall said that the Committee should act on the basis of consensus, taking account of community support. Its responsibility would be to deliver the homes proposed in the Neighbourhood Development Plan.

Discussion turned to the committee’s Terms of Reference. The issues highlighted were:

  • Increasing the focus on delivering infrastructure, particularly sewerage, given the community’s concerns about current shortcomings
  • The relationship between CDC and the Chilbolton Community Land Trust and the oversight role that the Parish Council has
  • The need to focus CDC on delivering the 10 proposed “downsize” homes and defining an operating model for its work
  • Establishing working groups and co-opting people from the community who had relevant skills

It was agreed that the work already completed by the Strategic Working Group should be collated. This would be used as a resource for committee members and the public, respecting the constraints of commercial confidentiality.

Peter Collis agreed to draft changes to the terms of reference and present them to the next meeting.

Cllr Hall then suggested that some initial working groups should be established. These were discussed and agreed to be:

  • Housing needs, housing mix and design
  • Site location and access to it
  • Commercial and business backing for the development
  • Water and sewerage implications
  • Heating and power for the new homes

The meeting also discussed how the group would communicate its work to Chilbolton residents and engage with them. This topic will be discussed in the wider context of the Parish Council meeting on 7 Jul 2025 at 6:30pm.

When the meeting was opened to questions from the public, a resident asked how the figure of 65 homes in the Test Valley Borough Council consultation paper was arrived at. Cllr Larcombe said that the number was arbitrary and had been estimated by TVBC planners. This had happened for all Test Valley villages.

Cllr Hall said that the matter would be discussed at the next Parish Council meeting. A response will be provided by CPC as part of the Borough Council consultation process.

A resident then asked whether the CDC would review all possible development sites around Chilbolton, including Gravel Hill which had not been considered previously. Cllr Hall said that all sites would be reviewed in a process that would be visible to the community.

The next CDC meeting will be on 23 July 2025 at 7pm in the Village Hall. Cllr Hall asked that the working groups each give an outline plan of how they will tackle their responsibilities.