Barratt Homes – Farm access hogwash

Regular readers will know that Havant Civic Society takes a close interest in documents submitted with planning applications, particularly when they are written by 'transport consultants'. Planning application APP/23/00584 is currently exercising the residents of Denvilles since it appears little more than a cynical initiative by the housing developer to turn HBC's lack of attention … Continue reading Barratt Homes – Farm access hogwash

Amazon. So who got the best deal here?

We've been wondering why 32 New Lane, perhaps more aptly named 'Little Luxembourg', has yet to appear on Havant Borough Council's published record of business rates. A chart of the income received by Havant Borough Council from the 32 New Lane site over the past four years might cause one or two raised eyebrows. During … Continue reading Amazon. So who got the best deal here?

The Portsmouth Water ‘New HQ’ planning application

It's back on the table - the Portsmouth Water 'New HQ' planning application proposed for Solent Road. Background - The original planning applicationThe changes published on 6 July 2023To comment on the amended planning application The wider picture Background - The original planning application On 18 May 2021, Chancerygate (Erdington) Limited, submitted a planning application … Continue reading The Portsmouth Water ‘New HQ’ planning application

Regeneration – Meridian Centre reimagined for 2028

As we showed back in April, the council are continuing to invest in the services of Fabrik, despite the failure of the two Levelling Up Fund bids totalling over £30M on which the two organisations collaborated. However, taking a positive view, times have moved on since April and HBC's new executive team have assembled a … Continue reading Regeneration – Meridian Centre reimagined for 2028

HBC Regeneration gets a professional reboot and a long-overdue reality check

The presentation by HBC's Wayne Layton to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 19 June was a significant departure from the glossy, content-free and frankly out-of-touch presentations we've seen from his predecessors over the past five years. Mr. Layton is the recently appointed Executive Head of Corporate Finance who in addition holds the post of … Continue reading HBC Regeneration gets a professional reboot and a long-overdue reality check

Development sites submitted for consideration in the Local Plan

Last October, Havant Borough Council put out a 'Call for sites', an exercise to invite landowners and developers to nominate potential development land for the council to consider as it pulls together the latest version of the Local Plan. With the list of sites now published ahead of next week's Planning Policy Committee meeting, we … Continue reading Development sites submitted for consideration in the Local Plan

The story behind those yellow ‘Roadworks until December’ signs

In case you wondered why the council's contractors were digging up mature hedges and rehoming nesting birds outside the Civic Plaza today, here is a summary: Unable to use the ringfenced 'Transforming Cities Fund' to fill in some of the increasingly dangerous potholes in the borough's local roads, Hampshire County Council is about to embark … Continue reading The story behind those yellow ‘Roadworks until December’ signs

Newsflash! Havant Regeneration has finally taken off

A shot in the arm for the regeneration of Havant and the voters' verdict on the lack of transparency and shocking decision-making that put Amazon into the town centre rather than out at Dunsbury Park. Thanks to the voters of Bedhampton, Emsworth, Hayling and St. Faith's for finally kick-starting the regeneration of Havant, and our … Continue reading Newsflash! Havant Regeneration has finally taken off

Happy Easter to all our readers in St Faith’s and beyond

Havant Civic Society wishes a very Happy Easter to all our members and friends; the residents and local businesses who together make Havant such a fine place.This lovely display by Havant's own urban yarn bombers and guerilla knitters has to be one of the leading contenders for Canon Tom's Easter Bonnet award.