News: Parish Council begins local plan response

At a well-attended and well-run meeting, Chilbolton Parish Council’s Planning Committee began the process of preparing their response to Test Valley Borough Council’s draft plan consultation. The plan allocates 65 homes to be built in Chilbolton.

Cllr Sue Larcombe, chairing the meeting, outlined five broad options for how CPC could respond:

  • No comment, which would be inappropriate
  • Agreement without any conditions
  • Agreement with conditions
  • Outright objection to the proposals
  • Counter the 65-home allocation with a return to the pre-application which the Parish Council had approved

Commenting on the alternatives, she pointed out that there was a proven housing need, the Village has a Neighbourhood Development Plan and there was a new Government policy promoting more housing development.

Taking these into account, she said that it would be better to engage with TVBC. Not doing so would bring a higher risk of speculative development in the Village.

What followed was a thoughtful, orderly discussion between residents who attended and the Planning Committee: Cllr Larcombe, Cllr Julian Hudson and Cllr Tony Ewer (Cllr Debbie Collis gave her apologies).

The points covered included:

  • Infrastructure - electricity, roads, water and sewerage - these were widely talked about with Cllr Ewer providing information about the current electricity and sewerage system. One resident summarised a widely held view saying “It would be irresponsible to build anything without improvements in utilities”
  • Road safety was also discussed. Two issues dominated: the safety of residents during construction on roads where there are few footways; and the increase in traffic on narrow roads, some with passing places, once the homes are built
  • TVBC’s choice of site and the possible alternatives in the Village also came up. One resident said “I’m surprised this site is most suitable. What about Martins Lane?” Another mentioned brownfield sites and conversion of existing buildings. Cllr Larcombe pointed out that Chilbolton already has 30 houses planned - 25 in the pre-app and five at Test Valley Farm. There was also consideration of how infill homes would be built during the 17-year plan period. A resident asked whether multiple sites around the Village would be better to accommodate 65 homes
  • The phasing of the 65-home development came up: a resident pointed out, to the surprise of the Committee, that the TVBC phasing would complete the 65 homes in 7 years, not 17 and asked what would happen in the remaining 10 years (Housing Trajectory document, page 5). Cllr David Hall, who attended the meeting, confirmed the point and said that a lot of detail was buried in the draft Local Plan. The Committee agreed to include that in their deliberations
  • A resident asked about the size and style of the new homes, and whether there was any detail. Cllr Hall said there was no more detail in the Local Plan. Cllr Larcombe said that the Parish Council would apply for smaller houses, in line with the Neighbourhood Development Plan

The meeting closed with Cllr Larcombe promising to publish her summary of the options open to the Parish Council. Cllr Hudson said that he would publish the notes he had made of the meeting. These will be available on the Parish Council website.

An issue that arose several times in the meeting was the importance of residents letting the Parish Council know their observations and concerns. When making a comment to TVBC’s consultation, you can copy this to the Parish Council via email:

This is the first chance that residents have had for “meaningful engagement” on proposed large-scale development in the Village. The Parish Council’s response must take into account the observations and concerns that they raise. They can only do this if they know about them: they won’t see comments made to TVBC until after the consultation process has closed if they aren’t copied on them.

Test Valley describes the 65-home allocation in Chilbolton as “community led”. The Parish Council can only demonstrate that in their response, if they have a clear idea of what residents’ observations and concerns are.

The next meeting of the Planning Committee is on Monday 4 Aug 2025 at 6pm in the Village Hall.