A PETITION to protect the North Hampshire Downs from future building developments has gained nearly 10,000 signatures.

The petition was started by Stand up for the North Hampshire Downs, a group set up by residents to protect and promote the North Hampshire Downs and currently has 9,879 signatures.

Government calculations suggest as many as 17,820 new homes need to be built in Basingstoke and Deane by the end of 2039 and council documents reveal that Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council need to build 7,703 houses more than they currently have in the pipeline.

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The first major threat to the Downs is the proposal by Portsmouth Estates, made public on 18 June 2020, to build 2,500 houses on 900 acres between the M3 and the A339 called Upper Swallick Garden Community.

The group is calling for the site not to be included in the Local Plan.

The plan sets the rules surrounding the development of the borough and can be used by developers as a blueprint on where and how to build houses.

Marcus Rule, the group’s chairman, said: "It is rare when you do something that everybody you talk to supports you, it’s a rare thing in life as there are normally other sides to the story but not on this one and that has been great and very encouraging.

“I think a lot of people feel very strongly all around the borough that we have just had too many houses and the number is too high."

Marcus said that if houses were to be built in the area it would engulf the village of Cliddesden, Ellisfield, Winslade and all the surrounding villages as well as ruining easy access to the countryside from Brighton Hill and Hatch Warren.

He added: "We are happy for some houses because we understand there must be growth but just not by that amount.

“It will also affect a lot of people in Basingstoke because we are the green light of the town and everyone comes out here to go walking or cycling so we are keen for the developments not to come this way.”

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Mark said that although the petition has over 10,000 signatures the council will only take notice if it has 4,000 signatures from people who live in the borough.

He added: “I would like to see the land remain as countryside because we have had more than our fair share of houses and it is time for a bit of a calm down.”

Cllr Simon Bound, cabinet Member for Communities, planning and infrastructure  said: “We are in the early stages of updating our Local Plan which will set out a vision and a strategy for meeting the borough’s needs, including homes and employment, beyond 2029. This is a lengthy and detailed process and we are working towards the first stage of consultation later in 2022.

"The council’s Economy, Planning and Housing Committee heard an update on progress on sites in September 2021 and at this stage the site is not shortlisted for allocation in the updated Local Plan. The council's refreshed Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) which is a register of all of the sites that have been promoted to the council, was published in December 2021 and can be found on the council’s website: www.basingstoke.gov.uk/SHELAA.”

For more information, visit: www.change.org/p/basingstoke-deane-borough-council-protect-the-north-hampshire-downs.

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