Comment

Basingstoke moves positively on plan progress

From 28 September Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council (BDBC) have embarked on the preliminary stage of consultation on the Local Plan update. The key points of consultation are summarised below.

The main purpose of the ‘Issues and Options’ publication is ‘to identify the key planning issues facing the borough over the next Local Plan period (to at least 2038) and consider suitable options to address them.’ BDBC are one of the first councils to publish a consultation that makes reference to the proposed wholesale procedural and policy changes put forward by the Government in their own recent consultation on short and medium/longer term planning reforms. In a positive step, BDBC are keen to continue progress on the Local Plan notwithstanding these potential uncertainties, seeking views from stakeholders to help shape the responses taken.

The ‘Issues and Options’ highlights a number of key priorities that the Local Plan Review will need to address. Alongside the familiar themes of facilitating housing and economic growth, of note is that creating beautiful places, tackling climate change and promoting health and well-being are also front and centre priorities, in line with some of the key themes of the Government consultation.

Some ambitious options include: 

• requiring all new development to be zero carbon (through on-site proposals and off-site contributions); 
• identifying sites in the Plan for renewable and low carbon energy sources and their supporting infrastructure; and 
• providing design policies for the town centre to encourage dynamic and exciting buildings and better connectivity.

Housing

In terms of housing requirement, it is acknowledged there will be an increase from 850 dwellings per annum (dpa) set out within the adopted Plan, to 884 dpa based on the current standard method set out in national guidance. Of course, this figure may yet increase further depending on the Government’s response to the recent consultation on updating the standard method.

One option highlighted to assist in delivering these enhanced housing requirements is to consider increasing density within Basingstoke town centre, through facilitating taller buildings. The Station Approach area south of the railway station is earmarked as an opportunity for redevelopment to provide enhanced rail/bus connectivity, to introduce new uses (including residential), and improve the existing public realm.

Basingstoke Leisure Park is also put forward as an option for redevelopment, making use of the under-utilised site to enhance existing leisure facilities whilst incorporating alternative uses, including a retail outlet centre. Re-allocation of existing employment sites to alternative uses, (including residential) is also an option.

The document is keen to stress that greenfield sites will still be necessary. The council are confident that the capacity to accommodate housing from sites submitted in response to the council’s call for sites consultation, in 2019, far exceeds likely requirements.

In meeting requirements, options for delivering a small number of large strategic sites, or a large number of smaller sites, or a combination of the two, are set out.

Settlement hierarchy

To assist in identifying sites, a Part 1 Settlement Study has been prepared to identify sustainability attributes of settlements within the borough. This confirms a Principal Service Centre at Basingstoke Town; Large Local Service Centre at Overton, Tadley, Whitchurch; and Small Local Service Centre at Bramley, Kingsclere, Oakley and Old Basing. Larger and smaller villages are also identified as having some sustainability merits. A review of the current approach to limited growth at Tadley, because of the close proximity to the Automatic Weapons Establishment, is also proposed.

An assessment of local needs, opportunities and constraints will be considered in Part 2 of the Settlement Study to determine future suitable levels of growth for each settlement.

Industrial, storage and distribution

Industrial, storage and distribution future needs could be accommodated on the edge of Basingstoke (or other settlements in the case of industrial uses), or through large scale mixed-use allocations. A more flexible approach to the redevelopment of the existing office campus at Basing View is put forward. This could include alternative employment uses or an enhanced residential component.

It is encouraging that BDBC remain committed to the Local Plan review. The approach within the consultation to embracing the current uncertainty provided by the Government reforms, and the performance of the economy, is refreshing.

The consultation runs until 4pm on Monday 9 November 2020. For more information, or if you would like to discuss the Issues and Options consultation, please contact Simon Packer.

29 September 2020