Saturday, January 19, 2008
Finally a New Year blog
After the usual Christmas and New Year chaos I suddenly realised that I haven't blogged for a whole month! It's not been that quiet either.
Across Winchester people are beginning to realise, and hopefully think about, the implications of the first stage of the Local Development Framework. I first wrote about this back in November and we are now in the middle of the public consultation period that ends on February 15. All of the options are predicated on the government's requirement that 3000+ new homes need to be built in the north of the Winchester district over the next 18 years.
Some of the key questions that arise from this are:
Across Winchester people are beginning to realise, and hopefully think about, the implications of the first stage of the Local Development Framework. I first wrote about this back in November and we are now in the middle of the public consultation period that ends on February 15. All of the options are predicated on the government's requirement that 3000+ new homes need to be built in the north of the Winchester district over the next 18 years.
Some of the key questions that arise from this are:
- Should we plan to incorporate 3000+ new homes into the existing boundaries of Winchester, given that this would mean building on the identified reserve development sites at Barton Farm, Pitt Manor and Francis Gardens?
- Should we instead build a new development of around 4,000 houses with schools, services, etc. on the edge of Winchester?
- If we build on the edge should it be at: 1. Barton Farm plus land to the north of the existing site; 2. Teg Down and the Royal Winchester golf course; 3. Pitt and the South Winchester golf course; 4. Bushfield Camp and Bushfield Farm?
- How about the Eagle Star proposal for a 12,500 home "eco-town" at Micheldever Station as an alternative?
- Does Winchester town have a future if it doesn't expand?
- Could Winchester town actually cope with such an expansion?
