Penwood development project to bypass planning procedures

Councillors voted by a majority to back a project to develop various pockets of land (pictured) in Penwood for housing at a parish council meeting last Thursday evening at Highclere Village Hall.
Potential areas of Penwood ripe for housing development were outlined by architect Andy Clemas of HNW Architects, Chichester, who said that the demolition of garages, owned by Sentinel Housing Association, and also a shop, both at Heathlands, were potential sites, although there was a question mark over the latter as it was privately owned.
The site of the former Penwood village hall, at Heathlands, which is owned by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, was unsuitable for development because any new properties would be overshadowed by existing houses, he said.
“It would be better to return the land where the village hall was to woodland, as homes would suffer from lack of daylight,” said Mr Clemas.
Parish councillors Patrick Hedgeland and Horace Mitchell outlined the proposals which, under the Government’s community right to build scheme, would bypass standard planning procedures – a first in either Hampshire, or Berkshire, according to the parish council.
However, at least 50 per cent of the vote of Penwood villagers would have to be in favour of the proposals before building work could start.
But, in answer to a question by the only Penwood villager among the audience at last week’s meeting, Richard Owens, parish councillors agreed that if only three people voted in the referendum, and two of these voted in favour, this would constitute a legal majority and the development could go ahead, even though there is population of 500 in Penwood.
“It’s very important that the parish council makes that abundantly clear to every member of this voting ward,” said Mr Owens, who said councillors were trying to “whitewash” the development proposals, a suggestion vigorously denied by parish councillor Horace Mitchell.
Mr Owens also pointed out that redevelopment could include allotments and natural spaces.
The parish council aims to put any resulting income from the developments, including the Government’s new homes bonus and developer’s contributions, towards community benefits, including a new community hall for various uses, including a polling station and police presence, along with improved parking spaces, environmental improvements and a safer walking and cycling route between Penwood and Highclere.
Timescales for the project include a referendum in six months and, if agreed, the building work would to start in about 18 months.