Sherfield residents and councillors question local plan

As previously reported, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is organising drop-in events to hear from residents about the local plan that will shape the future of the borough until 2040. 

Government calculations suggest as many as 17,820 new homes need to be built by the end of 2039 and eight sites have been earmarked for major development by the council. 

Cllr Jenny Vaux and Cllr Simon Minas-Bound at one of the drop-in events at Sherfield Park Community Centre (Image: Newsquest)

The plan includes a ‘stepped trajectory’ approach, put forward by the new administration, which will see the current government figure of building 850 homes a year, reduced to under 700 a year from 2025 for the first five years of the plan.

READ MORE: 'We need new houses, but they can't be full of mould in 20 years,' say residents

However, Conservative councillor and former council leader Simon Minas-Bound has questioned this approach, labelling its impact as "enormous" and accusing the administration of lacking transparency in the consultation process.

Cllr Minas-Bound, who was attending a drop-in event held at Sherfield Park Community Centre on Thursday, February 1, said: “I’m frustrated about where we are with our local plan.

“The secretary of state has said if you are serious about going into consultations, you get some leeway on the five-year land supply. Hopefully it would help our borough.

“The current administration has come up with a stepped approach, which absolutely lowers deliveries in the first few years, and then rams up the number of houses to 900. So we will be building nearly 1,000 houses every year forever. So the impact of that one decision is enormous. We are not asking the member of public if that is a good plan.”

Cllr Minas-Bound added the current plans are not satisfactory.

He continued: “Our administration was ready to publish our version of plans in September 2023. We would have been much further ahead and protecting more of our greenfield. The current plan was what got stuck in the committee.”

Conservative councillor Paul Miller, who was also at the Sherfield drop-in event, echoed these sentiments, questioning the logic of organising drop-in sessions at selective locations.

Cllr Paul Miller at one of the drop-in events at Sherfield Park Community Centre (Image: Newsquest)

He said: “I doubt that they will get a view of the overall local plan for the Basingstoke and Deane if they do the consultation at selective places. Everybody at this location will look at those plans that are close to the Sherfield Park and if it would directly affect them.

“As long as the consultation goes around to all the community centres around in Basingstoke, that’s fine.

“The one issue I have heard this afternoon is the lack of infrastructure. We see nothing at the moment to solve it in this plan update. So people are cynical about it.

“It’s good that officers are here and they are listening to us. And they will take it back to put together after this consultation for consideration. We are sending a message and that’s important. I hope more people would attend these consultations.”

Residents attending the drop-in event also voiced their concerns, particularly regarding the lack of infrastructure to support increased housing development.

SEE ALSO: Residents to finally have a say on local plan update, if consultation approved

Rev John Morley, one of the Sherfield Park residents who attended the drop-in event, highlighted the strain on existing infrastructure and called for additional investment in facilities such as secondary schools and GP surgeries to accommodate the growing population.

Rev John Morley was also at the Sherfield Park Community Centre drop-in event (Image: Newsquest)

“From what I understand, Basingstoke and Deane already has more houses than required,” he said.

“They are planning 1,200 more houses in Sherfield, which is going to increase the traffic here.

“We need more infrastructure like secondary schools and GP surgeries. Students are now depending on buses when they progress from primary to secondary schools. Most of the GP surgeries are already full.”