BROWNFIELD SITES……. the facts

The Conservatives have suggested that they can deliver all future housing by developing Brownfield Land. This is simply NOT TRUE.

Brownfield means ‘previously developed land’ – land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure.

At least once a year Councils are required, by law, to update their Brownfield Land Register.

Prior to the update, Hart carry out a ‘call for potential sites’. This is simply asking landowners in the district if they have any land they would consider selling or developing for residential use. 

The Government has a set of very stringent rules relating to what can or cannot be included on the Brownfield Land Register. To read it in detail, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/brownfield-land-registers but in summary, the following criteria should be met before land can be included: -

• The land has an area of at least 0.25 hectares or can support at least 5 dwellings.
• The land is suitable for residential development.
• The land is available for residential development and, residential development is achievable.
• The land is not a Heritage Asset and the like.

‘available’ – the relevant landowner(s) or developers have expressed an intent to sell or develop the land and, at a date not more than 21 days before entry on the BLR there is not any evidence to the contrary, including land ownership or other legal impediments.

 ‘achievable’ – in the opinion of the Local Planning Authority, Hart District Council in this instance, residential development is achievable within 15 years of the entry date.

‘suitable for residential development’ – has been allocated in the Local Plan: has planning permission for residential development: Is in the opinion of the LPA appropriate for residential development having regard to any adverse effect on: - the natural environment, the local built environment including on Heritage Assets, local amenity harm for future occupants and/or neighbours, any representations received.

To view Hart’s Brownfield Land Register please visit https://www.hart.gov.uk/brownfield-land-register

Prior to the 2021 Local Election, Hart Conservatives, including District Councillors, MP and their facebook support group We Heart Hart, alluded to all future development for Hart over the next 20-30 years being delivered on Brownfield Sites if they regained control of Hart District Council. 

But what truth is there behind their undefined and wholly claim?

Community Campaign (Hart) have interrogated HDC’s Brownfield Land Register, which has been formulated in accordance with the Government’s policy, to ascertain exactly how much Brownfield Land is currently available for residential development in Hart.

In summary, the available, achievable, and suitable land equates to delivery of 77 dwellings. 

Within this list, based on the dwelling capacity of sites, the following analysis has been identified: -

Circa 69% is built or being built
Circa 13% change of use has been removed
Circa 10% the site is deemed undeliverable
Circa 5% is included on the SHLAA and does not yet have planning permission
Circa 2% available, achievable, and suitable
Circa 1% planning permission has expired

Of those built or being built, 71% are already in Fleet.

Even if Hart could deliver housing on all the sites on the BLR, (excluding those built or being built) the capacity would only deliver circa 1100 dwellings.

We would not get the infrastructure we need – no new secondary school, no GP surgery, no 40% Affordable Housing, no road improvements etc. We would not see sustainability or renewable energy scale to support our Climate Change Emergency.

As we are expecting to have to deliver circa 5,000 more new homes in the next 20 years or so, further housing delivery would see additional greenspace extensions, in the main to Fleet, Church Crookham and Crookham Village, those that we fought at appeal and protected from with our Local Plan – 700 homes to Pale Lane, extension to Grove Farm (Hareshill), extension to Watery Lane. Hook would see 700 homes at Owen’s Farm.
If we cannot demonstrate a plan for delivering the housing central government is likely to dictate Hart to build, Developers will decide.

• Hart does NOT have sufficient Brownfield Land to deliver our future housing expectations.
• If we don’t have a plan, developers will decide where to build as they have done over the last decade.
• Fleet & it’s Parishes will lose further greenspace.
• Small developments do not deliver infrastructure.
• Small developments do not deliver sustainability or support our Climate Change Emergency.
• Small developments will not deliver 40% Affordable Housing and may deliver none.

The Conservatives have misled residents into thinking ‘saying no to Shapley Heath’ equals ‘saying no to future development full stop’. It does NOT. 

We will still need to build houses, year on year for the foreseeable future. Hart must be able to demonstrate an ongoing minimum 5-year land supply.

We can only do that by either – planning for a Community Garden Village - Shapley Heath with all the infrastructure, sustainability, renewable energy provisions, 40% affordable housing, job opportunities, business opportunities etc. OR by allowing further intensification and extension of Fleet, Church Crookham and Crookham Village, burdening further our existing services, congesting further our roads, offering little or no Affordable Housing and contributing little to support our Climate Change Emergency.

The Conservatives failed to demonstrate to residents their plan for delivering future housing merely hiding behind the word ‘regeneration’ of Fleet.

Hart cannot include or plan to develop land that is not available, achievable or suitable. 

You may have seen the Conservatives unofficial facebook group, We Heart Hart (run by a Conservative supporter) and their close associates ‘Rural’ Hart Association (run by a Winchfield resident) post a plan showing development of the Hart Centre (not available) into circa 400 flats which they claim would be ‘ideal for first time buyers and the elderly’. But only if they want to live in high rise blocks with no outdoor amenity space. 

                                                                                                                   

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