Chamber responds to Eastleigh Local Plan Consultation

17 Jan 12

Following on from the presentation by Tony Wright, Planning Policy and Design Manager at Eastleigh Borough Council to January's Planning and Transport Committee held in Southampton, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has filed its response to Eastleigh's Local Plan Consultation.

With the Employment Land Assessment still to come, of which Eastleigh Borough Council will engage the Chamber shortly; key issues have been addressed by Chamber members who were given extra time to respond to the Local Plan Consultation.

Some of the leading points of discussion highlighted in the response include:

1. The heavy reliance on Riverside which is acknowledged to be expensive and uncertain.
2. The loss of a significant number of major employment sites to housing.
3. The lack of allocations to make up the loss of employment land.
4. The reduction in employment land
5. The conflict between the Airport’s aspirations for its land in the NE sector and that of the Local Plan.
6. The lack of alternative provision for firms displaced at Riverside or elsewhere in the Borough.

It's been an interesting exercise and Chamber looks forward to commenting further.

Please click on the link below for a complete copy of the Chamber's response and a copy of the full consultation document.

Useful links

http://www.hampshirechamber.co.uk/docs/EBCLocalPlanNov11%20-HampshireChamberFINALresponseV2jc.pdf

http://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/planning--building-control/planning-policy--design/draft-local-plan.aspx

http://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/the-council/news/local-plan-consultation.aspx