Steve Brine understands proposals for development at Pitt Manor in Winchester are imminent. Residents encouraged to speak out now!
Turley Associates held two open sessions at The Tower Arts Centre in September 2009 to show proposals for 200 homes – and a new park-and-ride site – at Pitt Manor just off the Romsey Road.
Just over 200 local residents attended the open days and expressed their view on draft plans to Turley. They included Prospective Winchester MP Steve Brine who understands objections raised (from 148 people) focused on:
- the principle of development given that the additional housing was not needed
- the visual impact of the development
- the additional traffic congestion that would occur on Romsey Road
Pitt Manor remains a RESERVE SITE in the current Winchester District Local Plan and has been designated as such since that plan was revised in 2005 by the previous Liberal Democrat administration running Winchester City Council.
Prospective Conservative MP for Winchester, Steve Brine, received notice this week (w/c Jan 4 2010) of slightly revised plans and the intention to submit an outline planning application “within the next two weeks”.
This will include a raft of supporting information including a Design & Access Statement Planning Policy Statement, Transport Assessment and Travel Plan, Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment, Ecological Surveys Assessment, and Flood Risk Assessment. The Design & Access Statement will include more detailed layouts and cross sections indicating the potential form of the proposed development, focusing on how the sloping nature of the site has been incorporated into the design.
Steve said; “I am concerned that Turley appear to be saying they have listened to residents concerns and taken them on-board but, at the end of the day, intend to proceed with an application because this was placed in the Local Plan as a Reserve Site five years ago.
"They seem to be saying, it was ok then with Winchester Council so it’s ok now. None of this changes the fact I remain opposed to this proposal which represent further over-development in our city and will have disastrous implications for traffic in this and many other parts of Winchester.
"This would affect people down to Hursley in the South, towards Oliver’s Battery and down into town / Stanmore. With large developments taking place at Highcroft and one day at the Police HQ site on Romsey Road, not to mention the effects of so much development in Chilbolton Avenue over recent years, we have to ask how much more this part of Winchester can take?”
St Lukes City Councillor James Stephens remains opposed to the development and has a long history of opposition to it. Residents can contact Cllr Stephens via [email protected]
More information …
* View the plans as presented at the Turley open days in September 2009 – click here to download as a PDF (opens in a new window or right click and 'save target as ...' to download file).
* View the amended Masterplan as sent to interested parties on 5 January 2010 (opens in PDF format).
* View the email Turley Associates sent to Prospective MP Steve Brine on 5 January 2010 (opens in PDF format).
* Steve Brine TV - watch Steve Brine and Cllr James Stephens in conversation at the site via Steve's You Tube Site.
Pictured above; Cllr James Stephens with Steve Brine at the site (and ok with Popcorn the dog on developer lookout!)