News: "Paddock Field site" threatens 350 homes

At the Parish Council’s Planning Meeting last night, Cllr Tony Ewer revealed that Church Commissioners are investigating their land around Chilbolton for possible development. In particular, he referred to what he called the “Paddock Field site” - a field which could accommodate 350 homes.

“We know that they have a plan for the field behind Paddock Field”, he said. He described the site as the field stretching from Paddock Field, along Martins Lane, all the way to what he called “Hunt’s Lane”.

Cllr Sue Larcombe added that she had discussed the same issue in “a long conversation with Cllr David Drew”, and that he was “well aware” of both Gravel Hill and Paddock Field as potential sites. She added that a firm had been appointed “full time” to work on the task.

Cllr Deborah Collis said “It looks like you’ve got a new site to consider”.

Martin Watson - a member of the Community Development Committee, who was attending the meeting as a member of the public - asked “How unofficial is the Paddock Field site?”

Cllr Ewer said that the Church Commissioners had appointed new land agents, based in Winchester. They had been tasked with reviewing all the land owned by CC with a view to “putting it up for development”.

Asked where he had received this information, he admitted that it was a “rumour”, but declined to say where he had heard it. He described it as “a massive risk for us”.

Mr Watson then suggested that if this were only a rumour, that the CDC wouldn’t currently take it into consideration. They would were the “Paddock Field site” to become official.

The land in question is currently farmed, and extends to over 17 hectares (42 acres). It could accommodate up to 350 homes using the same housing density that the Parish Council proposed for their own development. This would amount to a 75% increase in the size of the Village.