Resource: References to the Strategic Working Group in the parish magazine
Extracts from the Chilbolton and Wherwell Community Magazine from January 2022 to March 2023 where the Parish Council has reported on the Strategic Working Group or development policies.
March 2025
Chilbolton Community Land Trust Public Meeting Thursday 13 th March 7.00 pm
A public meeting has been arranged in the Village Hall to launch the Community land Trust. (CCLT)Trustees will need to be appointed from the community and any person interested should email the parish clerk with brief personal details, email, address and phone number. Please also indicate how long you have lived in the Chilbolton and previous involvement in village activities.
The conversations planned for 8th March and 26th March are cancelled in favour of the land Trust meeting,
Planning Pre-Application
The Parish Council is committed to build affordable and downsize houses and submitted a planning pre-application on 31 st January for 10 affordable, 10 downsize and 5 self-build houses on the land adjacent to Eastman’s Field and the Village Hall. A pre-app is simply a formal request for planning advice from Test Valley planning and is definitely not a planning application. When Test valley have considered our request, they will advise the best way to proceed and the parish council will be able to consider options for discussion with the community.
Shared ownership affordable homes
Test Valley have advised that there is no list for applicants to put their name down for affordable shared ownership dwellings. There used to be a government approved site called ‘Help to Buy’ where applicants could apply and therefore a list was held but Help to Buy ceased in March 2023. There is no replacement for Help to Buy but many of residents responding to the housing need survey indicated a preference for shared ownership dwellings.
More information is needed so that the CCLT can seek to provide for this need. Residents should register their interest with the parish clerk if they are interested indicating the size of house that they require.
Downsize Houses
The proposed downsize houses are for long-term residents who wish to move into a smaller home with a smaller garden. They will be of generous size, typically two en-suite bedrooms, with a study area and a garage, so that there will be room for residents to keep prized furniture without being squeezed into a small space. Residents should register their interest with the parish clerk if they are interested.
February 2025
Strategy
The Strategic Working Group (SWG) is responsible for making recommendations to CPC regarding the new Local Plan, the Neighbourhood Plan, the delivery of 10 affordable and 10 downsize houses agreed in the NP and developing a long-term plan for the parish as part of the preparation for a revised NP.
Downsize Houses
The proposed downsize houses are for long term residents who wish to move into a smaller home with a smaller garden. They will be of generous size, typically two en-suite bedrooms, with a study area and a garage, so that there will be room for residents to keep prized furniture without being squeezed into a small space. Residents should register their interest with the parish clerk if they are interested.
December 2024
Chilbolton Parish Council - Vision for Chilbolton 2100
A draft document setting out a vision for Chilbolton in 2100 has been approved in principle by the Parish Council. This document seeks to overcome the main issues raised by residents in the various surveys undertaken in the parish and plans to overcome these in the future as development takes place. Any development will be based on identified housing need rather than developers seeking profits.
It is worth observing that since the Second World War some 200 houses have been built mainly on land near Station Road and Drove Road and that these houses were built without the benefit of an overall plan or any visible improvement in village amenities.
The Vision 2100 document explains how additional village amenities will be delivered in conjunction with further new homes starting with the 10 affordable and 10 downsize homes already agreed in the Neighbourhood Plan. A public meeting will give CPC an opportunity to explain the vision to residents, including which amenities are planned to be delivered alongside the new housing.
Public Meeting - Affordable and Downsize Houses Thursday 5th December, 7pm at the Village Hall
A public meeting will be held at the Village Hall to report on progress and outline the proposals for 10 affordable houses and 10 downsize houses so that parishioners will have a chance to review the scheme and ask questions.
We are hoping for positive support from parishioners so that CPC can proceed with pre-app and submit this to the planners and get formal feedback about the proposals. Please come to the meeting and support our hard-working Strategy committee.
Registering interest with TVBC.
It is very important that residents register interest in affordable homes with the Test Valley Borough Council in the usual way. Whist the intention is that the proposed Chilbolton Community Land Trust will own the proposed affordable homes and, unlike the existing allocation procedure, will itself allocate these homes, only persons registered on the register for affordable housing will be considered. Unless you are on the register you will not be considered.
The downsize houses are for long term residents who wish to move into a smaller home with a smaller garden. They will be of generous size, typically two bedrooms en-suite with a study area and a garage so that there will be room for residents to keep prized furniture without being squeezed into a small space.
Typically, such residents are living in large houses that they own and they will be able to downsize near to where they have lived and be able to sell or rent their current homes to families seeking to move into larger houses.
Residents should register their interest with the parish clerk so that they can be involved at the beginning of the project. It is possible that designs could be adapted for these individuals.
November 2024
Affordable and Downsize Houses
Good progress has been made on this project and a successful meeting was held with TVBC officers on 18th September to discuss the project in outline. The TVBC officers were enthusiastic about the scheme and have offered to support us.
A public meeting will be held at the Village Hall at 7pm on Thursday 5thDecember to report on progress and outline the proposals for 10 affordable houses and 10 downsize houses so that parishioners will have a chance to review the scheme and ask questions.
We are hoping for positive support from parishioners so that the parish council can proceed with pre app and submit this to the planners and get formal feedback about the proposals.
Please come to the meeting and support our hard-working Strategy committee. 7pm 5th December at the Village Hall.
Government announcements on housing
The parish council is very concerned about recent government announcements about mandatory housing targets and a presumption in favour of housing development. In the absence of a plan, development proposals can come forward on a piecemeal basis.
Fortunately, Chilbolton has a neighbourhood plan that is fully supported by the community, and we feel that moving this project forward the parish will be protected from unwanted development on surrounding green field sites.
Chilbolton Neighbourhood Plan Policy HD1
With the help of a retired senior solicitor the parish council has challenged the legal advice given to TVBC regarding the interpretation of Chilbolton Neighbourhood Plan Policy HD1 concerning the number of bedrooms per house on new developments. We have asked they that stop any further decisions using their “broader interpretation” of policy HD1 until this dispute can be resolved.
October 2024
Draft Local Plan
No further news as yet but it seems certain that there will be a delay whilst the implications of the new targets for social housing are considered by TVBC and the LP amended accordingly.
Affordable and downsize houses
PC consider that with the evidence of the housing need survey we should proceed with the 10 affordable and 10 downsize houses agreed in our Neighbourhood Plan. The PC strategy working group is busy with the assessment of available sites and will discuss the preliminary proposals withTVBC during the next month.
A public meeting will be held to report on progress and outline proposals in the next few months.
July 2024
Chilbolton response to Draft Local Plan
After a well-attended public meeting on 22 nd May the Parish Council submitted the Chilbolton response to the Reg 18 Draft of the 2040 Local Plan.
The issues important to Chilbolton had overwhelming support. We now await the next version of the LP in the hope that our proposals have been accepted.
Housing Need Survey 2024
The draft Housing Need Survey report was received during May and a meeting arranged with the TVBC officers who prepared the report. This meeting took place on 7th June. The results were very similar to those of the earlier survey in 2018 and again confirmed the need for smaller houses for downsizing and affordable housing. The report will be proposed to the PC for adoption after a few minor details have been amended and will then be put on the PC website. PC consider that with this evidence we should proceed with the 10 affordable and 10 down size houses agreed in our Neighbourhood Plan.
May 2024
Chilbolton response to Draft Local Plan
The public meeting on Tuesday 26 th March at 7:00 p.m. in the Village Hall to present and discuss the proposed Parish Council response to Local Plan 2040 Reg.18 Consultation was attended by some 50 residents. There was overwhelming support for the following actions. -
The parish council was authorised to submit the proposed response to the Reg. 18 Consultation on draft 2040 Local Plan and this was delivered to Test Valley borough council on 2nd April. The power point presentation and full response are available on the parish website. [Ed. can be found here]
There were 207 responses to the Referendum held during March on removal of part of Test Valley Farm (TVF) from the settlement boundary and 93.2% supported removal of TVF from the settlement. The parish council will write a formal letter to TVBC with this request.
Housing Need Survey
Many parishioners completed a housing need survey to update the survey of 2017 because before moving ahead with the planned build of 10 affordable and 10 downsize homes we need to be sure that the homes are still needed. A report is being prepared by Test Valley Borough Council.
March 2024
Housing Need Survey
Parishioners are asked to complete a new housing need survey to update the housing need before moving ahead with the planned build of 10 affordable and 10 downsize homes. We need to be sure that the needs have not changed and that the homes are still needed.
This survey will be independently analysed by Test Valley Borough Council who will issue a report.
Reg. 18 Consultation on draft 2040 Local Plan
The first full draft of the Local Plan 2040 (Reg 18, Stage 2) is out for public consultation with a closing date of 2 nd April.
The papers are available on the Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) website. The Local Plan will set out the TVBC proposals for housing, settlement boundaries and planning policy in the borough and the parish council will be making a formal response to matters that concern us. Any resident can respond directly.
Referendum on removal of part of Test Valley Farm (TVF) from the settlement boundary.
The proposed settlement boundary methodology in the TVBC 2040 Draft Local plan includes removal from settlement boundaries of non-developed land that has a closer functional relationship with the adjoining countryside including open space, recreation grounds, allotments, school playing fields and farm complexes.
The TVF land included in the settlement boundary is heavily wooded and partly a grazing field with a derelict building. It is separated from houses on the Southern part of Chilbolton by a public footpath and mature woodland only accessible by a narrow farm lane that follows an indirect route and is isolated from village facilities. It bears no relationship to Chilbolton village and certainly could not be said to relate to the built form of the settlement.
TVF most certainly does relate better to the countryside and it is part of an earlier farm complex. There is overwhelming objection by parishioners to development on TVF and so far development has been refused on this land although a planning application for 4 houses awaits decision.
The referendum is to provide evidence of public support to request the removal of TVF from the settlement boundary.
Please complete these questionnaires and referendum because a large response provides necessary evidence to support the Parish response and prioritises projects should funding become available.
February 2024
Housing Need and parish priority Surveys
Parishioners will be asked to complete a new housing need survey and a survey of parish priorities over the next two months. The last surveys were some 5 years ago and it is considered necessary to revalidate the earlier findings on housing need and priorities for improvements to the parish.
Please complete these questionnaires because a large response provides necessary evidence for projects and confirms the public view. If applicable, please consider formally applying for affordable, community led, or self-build housing on the Test Valley website. Sometimes it does seem pointless but without proof of need, projects are unlikely to happen.
2040 Local Plan
The first full draft of the Local Plan 2040 (Reg 18, Stage 2) is likely to go to public consultation in February. The papers are available on the Test Valley Borough Council website.
The Local Plan will set out the TVBC proposals for housing and planning policy in the borough and the parish council will be making a formal response to matters that concern us. A public meeting will take place to consider the Local Plan and to hear the views of parishioners before any response is sent to Test Valley Borough Council. Since the usual consultation period is 6 weeks we will probably hold the public meeting during the last week of February or the First week of March. Please keep an eye out for notices nearer the time.
July 2023
The draft of the new local plan should be circulated by Test Valley Council for consultation “later this year” and arrange a public meeting to explain the LP and a public meeting will be arranged to hear the views of local people before submitting the Chilbolton response. This might be in November.
June 2023
A new Local Plan (LP) now being prepared by Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) will only be issued about October.
This will be a draft LP and the Strategic Working Group (SWG) will arrange a public meeting to explain the LP and hear the views of local people before submitting the Chilbolton response. This will probably be towards the end of the year when timings are known.
May 2023
A new local plan (LP) now being prepared by Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) will be issued about the beginning of June. The parish strategy working group (SWG) will be working on our response to this after the consulting document is published. The SWG is also preparing a proposal to set up a community land trust that will progress the 10 affordable homes and 10 downsize homes that have been agreed in our neighbourhood plan.
The SWG minutes are on the parish council website and include a schedule of possible development sites in Chilbolton parish that have been put forward by local owners for consideration in the Strategic Housing and economic land availability assessment (SHELAA) of TVBC. It is important to be clear that land so put forward has NO approval for planning but is used by TVBC to satisfy the government that there is sufficient land available for development in the entire borough to meet the government housing targets. The new LP may, or may not, include housing targets for Chilbolton parish. A public meeting will be arranged to explain the LP and hear the views of local people before submitting the Chilbolton response.
December 2022/January 2023
As anticipated last month the refusal of the planning application for 7 houses at test valley farm was immediately followed by an application for four large houses on the same site. Your planning committee, the parish council and local residents are again actively opposing this application.
November 2022
On Thursday evening October 6 th the Northern Area Planning committee of Test Valley Borough Council met and two Chilbolton planning applications were discussed. There was a very good turn out by concerned local residents and the application for 7 houses at Test Valley Farm was unanimously refused by the committee following a “refuse” recommendation by the planning officer. Carol Eaton spoke on behalf of residents and the parish council also asked for a refusal. This was a good result and there will at least be a delay whilst the applicant considers their position. Sadly, we expect further developments but they will be resisted as many consider that development of luxury homes at Test Valley Farm is inappropriate when our need is for affordable housing and homes for residents who wish to downsize but would like to remain in Chilbolton.
The application for a small house at the South end of Branksome Close was deferred as the committee were not happy with the application. The parish council fail to understand why Aster, the applicant, does not build a much- needed affordable house on the site where there is adequate space for a children’s playground and perhaps some allotments as well.
There appears to be no incentive for Aster to build further much needed affordable houses on land that it owns, that was originally council housing land, but rather to find ways to realise the value of their assets. In terms of their charter, they have to use any funds raised this way for housing in the same borough but is sad to record that although some 20 affordable houses have been sold over the years Aster has built none in Chilbolton. This is simply wrong and should be addressed in legislative amendments.
October 2022
We still await the outcome of the appeal against the enforcement order regarding the unauthorised mobile homes near the Leckford Hut and the planning decision on the proposed development of 7 houses at test valley farm.
September 2022
Turning to Parish Council matters, we should soon receive the decision by Test Valley Planning regarding the proposed development of 7 large houses a Test Valley Farm. The residents of Chilbolton and the parish council are almost unanimously opposed to this proposed development that does not comply with our neighbourhood plan and would lead to traffic problems unless Little Drove Road and the access road within Test Valley Farm were made up to a full two lane road. There remains strong opposition to the extension of the village settlement boundary into Test Valley Farm without any corresponding contribution to village assets that would normally be required of a development in the countryside. We can but hope for an outcome in our favour.
June 2022
The parish council are now working on a community land trust that will be controlled by the parish council and used as the vehicle to take forward the projects to build 10 affordable homes and 10 comfortable retirement homes for local people.
May 2022
The 2020 Test Valley Local Plan is going through the normal consultation process and PC submitted comments on the second Regulation 18 consultation on 8 th April. These are on the Chilbolton website together with information papers on settlement boundaries and average house sizes.
Finally, after the objections of many parishioners to the inclusion of part of Test Valley Farm (TVF) in the settlement boundary that was revised as part of the current local plan adopted in 2016, the PC clerk has extracted all documents relating to how this change occurred and placed these on the Chilbolton website. PC have asked that TVF is removed from the settlement boundary in the 2020 Local Plan but until that happens (and it may not) all we can do is object to all development applications on the TVF site. Some parishioners have requested a judicial review (JR). PC simply cannot afford the cost of a JR that also requires an “arguable case” to proceed and could take several years but anyone who wishes to do this has the right to do so.