Resource: How to comment on the 75-home development

Why you should make a comment, how to do it, where to send it, and what is the deadline.

Why make a comment?

What’s being proposed would be the largest single development of houses in Chilbolton ever. It would increase the number of houses by over 16%, and would bring a further 245 people as residents of the Village.

The comments that Test Valley Borough Council receives will be an important factor in whether or not they approve outline planning permission for the development.

Who should make a comment?

Everyone who has an opinion on the proposals has the right to comment. You can, if you want, respond on behalf of your household, jointly. However, TVBC’s planners will take account not only of the details in the comments, but also the number of people who respond.

So to maximise the impact of your response, each person in your household should comment individually. When TVBC assesses the overall impact of responses to the planning application, numbers matter.

What should I say?

You will probably have your own thoughts on the proposal, and you can see what others have said at TVBC’s page of documents for this application. You are free to say the same thing, if you want.

The Parish Council are also holding three meetings which will offer the opportunity to hear what Councillors think, and also what your fellow residents are saying.

Above all it’s important, if you have views, that you send them in. You don’t have to worry about getting everything absolutely complete in the comments you send. You are perfectly entitled to send more in another email, letter or posting on TVBC’s website.

What’s the deadline?

The formal deadline for residents who want to make a comment is Friday 12 December 2025. However, TVBC’s Planning Case Officer has said they will accept residents’ comments until 12 Jan 2026. The Parish Council are urging residents to respond before Christmas.

Where to send comments

There are three ways to send comments to TVBC planning officers:

You can email to planning@testvalley.gov.uk.

You can write to:

Planning and Building Service

Beech Hurst

Weyhill Road

Andover

Hants SP10 3AJ

In both of the above cases, you should include the application number (which is 25/02680/OUTN for James Painter’s 75-home application) and your full postal address, including your postcode.

There is a third way to provide a comment. You can use the comments page for Mr Painter’s proposal. You have to register with TVBC, if you haven’t done so already, then login and use their online form.

For all of these ways of providing comments, you should not include your signature or telephone number. If you do, planning officers will have to blank them out.