News: Parish Council "clarify and refresh" housing lists

At their meeting last night, Parish Councillors agreed to hold registration lists for affordable housing categories only, and not to hold lists for downsize and self-build homes.

On this page:

Cllr David Hall opened the meeting welcoming, Emma Noble as the new Parish Clerk. Ms Noble has previously been a Parish Councillor, but resigned in 2025.

Housing lists to be reset

Parish Councillors agreed unanimously to “clarify and refresh” the housing lists which it holds. It resolved to adopt the definitions of affordable housing as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. These are:

  • Social rent
  • Affordable private rent, at least 20% below market rent
  • Discounted market sales, with at least 20% discount
  • Shared ownership or rent to buy

People interested in social rent are advised by Test Valley Borough Council to register with Hampshire Home Choice, a choice-based lettings scheme run on behalf of TVBC.

The Parish Council will operate lists for the other three categories, and people are invited to register with the Parish Clerk. Those on these lists will be considered for any housing which is built, or becomes available through registered providers in Chilbolton, and Chilbolton Community Land Trust.

Councillors agreed that CPC would no longer hold lists for downsize or self-build properties.

TVBC already holds a list for those seeking a self-build property.

Although councillors recognised that some residents were seeking downsize properties, they felt that options were available in the market for those who didn’t qualify for affordable housing.

As a result of this change, Councillors will now only have to declare interests related to specific planning applications rather than generic housing categories.

Odours from Tunnel Tech

Cllr David Hall reported that the recent Councillor Clinic which he, Cllr Sue Larcombe and Cllr Becky Williams had held, was dominated by concerns raised by residents over odours arising from the Tunnel Tech operation.

It is a facility producing mushroom growing compost, located to the South West of the Observatory site.

Mr Terry Gilmour, who is a member of the Chilbolton Development Committee and a long-standing resident of Chilbolton, said that he had been in contact with Tunnel Tech over a period of fourteen years, talking to them about smells from their site. He said that the company had previously acknowledged they had a problem.

Cllr Hall said that he would contact Tunnel Tech.

Test Valley Farm passing places and routing

The meeting discussed the building work at Test Valley Farm and the traffic associated with it.

Liz Blakemore, of Stop Chilbolton Over-development (SCO), reported that work to install passing places on Little Drove Road would begin on 22 Oct 2026. She said that she didn’t know what they would look like or what restrictions could be placed on them.

Residents of Little Drove Road were concerned that the passing places would be used for parking, exacerbating the traffic problems there. She added that Hampshire County Council Highway Authority had not responded to her queries, and asked “Do they hope we’ll just put up with it?”

Cllr Hall said that at the last HCC council meeting there had been a lengthy discussion about Highways, much of it critical. Out of 365 requests made by TVBC for consultation from HCC Highways, they had received only 12 responses. He added that CPC should get HCC Cllr David Drew to become involved.

Carol Eaton, also a member of SCO, asked whether the proposed one-way system could not be put into effect immediately. Cllr Hall, describing the proposal as “the least worst option”, said that he would follow up the issue with Alfred Homes.

It was confirmed that the next meeting with Alfred Homes will not be public, but will be a chance for SCO to raise any issues with them. If any residents have concerns they wish to be added to that agenda, they should contact Liz Blakemore or Carol Eaton

Solar panels on West Down?

Mr Peter Collis, who is Vice Chair of CDC, said that Great British Energy Community Fund had opened an eight-week application window for community energy groups to apply for funding.

He said that one of the energy proposals considered within CDC was for solar panels to be placed on a part of West Down. The Parish Council could potentially make an application for up to £40k of funding.

He said though that “it would be a rush” and that there would be a lot to do before applying. He recommended investigating the idea, and potentially making an application in a year’s time.

Some members of the public voiced concerns at the idea of solar panels on West Down, with one saying “I’d rather have a pond there.”

Mr Collis said “that’s why we need to talk to people before putting an application in.”

Traffic signs in the Village

A member of the public reported that three 20mph limit signs within the Village are missing, one is on Village Street where the post has rusted through and fallen over, there is another missing halfway up Drove Road and another at the bottom of Station Road. She has reported all three missing signs and received registration numbers but the signs have not been replaced. She identified two risks: it would make the issue of speeding within the Village worse, and if prosecuted a motorist could use the lack of signage as mitigation.

Cllr Becky Williams added that the fallen sign on Village Street has an exposed, rusty base that is a potential risk for walkers.

Results of consultation on community-led development

Responding to a question, Cllr Hall said that the results of the public consultation on options for community-led development will be presented to the Parish Council at their meeting on 2 Nov 2026, which as usual is open to the public.