News: James Painter's planners provide "independent" report on Gravel Hill

Councillor David Hall, Chair of Chilbolton Parish Council, had produced a summary of recent news which might affect their community housing project.

In it he reveals that Southern Planning Practice have produced a report, commissioned by James Painter, on Gravel Hill - one of the housing options reviewed by CPC.

Gravel Hill is one of five options the Parish Council put to residents at a public meeting at the end of June. They also include Mr Painter’s own 75-home proposal, a smaller 25-home development at Drove Road and the option of no community-led development at all.

One of the options is no longer relevant - the 65-home allocation at Drove Road made by Test Valley Borough Council in their Local Plan consultation, which they have now abandoned.

On this page:

SPP’s report on Gravel Hill

SPP are the consultants who have put forward the 75-home development near Drove Road, on behalf of Mr Painter. In the 32 pages of what they call an “independent assessment” they say:

  • “Gravel Hill should never have progressed to site feasibility stage”
  • In contrast, Drove Road is “suitable, available and achievable”
  • They say that the visualisation of Gravel Hill lacks the detail of the visualisation included in their 75-home planning application
  • They criticise the site options analysis done by CPC and its Community Development Committee

On this final point Cllr Hall says:

Perhaps most concerning are SPP’s attempts to discredit the Site Options assessment undertaken by a working group from the community throughout 2025. The methodology was agreed with TVBC and the output was endorsed by both CDC and CPC and shared with the public at the start of 2026. The process has been completely transparent and we question why SPP have waited until now to challenge this.

James Painter prepared to talk

Cllr Hall also reveals that SPP have indicated that James Painter is now prepared to talk to the Parish Council about a smaller, community-led development at Drove Road. Of this news Cllr Hall says “Given that no decisions on the 75 homes seem imminent, that would certainly help put both sites on a more even footing before the village vote and we would be keen to meet with James sooner rather than later.”

Vote this summer

Cllr Hall provides an update on the vote CPC outlined at their public meeting. He says that TVBC support the Parish Council’s plan to offer Chilbolton residents a vote on the housing options this summer. They have recommended three independent organisations who could help CPC arrange the ballot.

CPC will discuss plans at their next meeting.

Deadline for feedback

The note reminds villagers that their questions and feedback on the housing options are still welcomed by the Parish Council until 31 Jul 2026 - you can send them to the Parish Clerk.

All the issues raised will be published in a summary before any Village vote.

Hampshire County Council Highway Authority

HCC Highway Authority’s supplementary response to the 75-home development last week, draws criticism from Cllr Hall. In particular he takes aim at their assertion that the additional traffic from the new homes would not result in unsafe walking and cycling in Chilbolton. He says

CPC will contest this assessment with TVBC and via our HCC Cllr Drew. The points raised in our objection were about the narrow roads, the many blind bends and the lack of pavements or verges, which combine to pose a moderate risk today to the many cyclists, pedestrians, those with dogs, prams, wheelchairs or mobility scooters, and horse-riders who use the village roads throughout the day.

Other issues outlined

Cllr Hall also covered other areas:

  • TVBC’s vote to shelve their Local Plan, and its adoption of the new “gateway” approach
  • The importance for Chilbolton of its Neighbourhood Development Plan and community-led housing as a defence against “speculative over-development”
  • Confirmation from Simon Finch, Director of Planning at TVBC, that the the Observatory’s comments about the impact of new housing on its work is a material concern, which his team is taking seriously
  • CPC are seeking a meeting with the Science and Technology Facilities Council, who are responsible for the Observatory, “to understand any constraints on wider housing development which may impact on the options we can put to the village”

Next meetings

The next meeting of the Community Development Committee, is scheduled for 26 Aug 2026 at 7pm in the Village Hall.

The next Parish Council meeting will be on 7 Sep 2026 at 6pm in the Village Hall.