The Proposals
In order to develop the site in the most appropriate way a significant amount of work has been undertaken by Linden Homes in order to inform the preparation of a planning application.
It is proposed that an outline planning application will be submitted in order to fix the key principles as to how the site will be developed and this will include the proposed access arrangements.
The outline planning application would then be followed by a reserve matters application which will set out the precise layout and location of new dwellings, their size and type, the location of any on site open space, new landscaping, etc. all of which will have to conform to the principles established by the outline application. This means that there will be two separate opportunities to comment on these proposals.
Policy H4 of the Local Plan sets out an indicative number of dwellings for each of the reserve sites; 250 in the case of Hampshire Farm. More recently, the Council's Strategic Land Availability Assessment indicated that the site could accommodate 280 dwellings, recognising the need to develop sites more efficiently.
In addition, it has always been the intention to provide for a new doctors' surgery to greatly enhance the limited facility that currently exists in Emsworth town centre. Linden Homes is working closely with Dr Woodruff and his colleagues to make this happen and the draft proposals include a new surgery on site. This will be an important new medical facility offering a much greater range of services.
The 17 hectares of proposed public open space will be protected from development in perpetuity and this is one of the important elements in this public consultation process. The local community will have the chance to influence the type of public open space that will ultimately be provided, allotments, formal parks and gardens, formal recreation or managed areas to encourage bio-diversity.