In another government outbreak of sanity, following on from our piece on Shoebox living, we're pleased to notice in the Times today that the government is now planning to clamp down on this abuse of Permitted Development rules. Interestingly, the new minimum space requirement will be 37 m2 for a one bedroom flat, meaning that … Continue reading Tiny flats to be banned under new planning rules
Category: Planning Services
Havant Borough Council urges government to reconsider proposed planning reforms
[Press release from HBC - 30-9-2020] Updated 1-10-2020 to include link to HBC formal responseUpdated 5-10-2020 to include Alan Mak MP's formal response. "Havant Borough Council is urging central government to urgently reconsider its proposed planning system reforms which would see the number of homes in the borough nearly doubling. The council has sent a … Continue reading Havant Borough Council urges government to reconsider proposed planning reforms
Planning Reform – Councillors are revolting!
Yes, you read that correctly. Following on from our post on the CPRE's take on the 'Planning for the Future' white paper, we're encouraged to read in the press today that 'a survey across Tory heartlands has revealed party representatives are baulking at ministers’ plans to sharply increase housing targets in electoral strongholds like Hampshire … Continue reading Planning Reform – Councillors are revolting!
CPRE ‘Call to Action’ on planning reform
(Post updated, 23/9/2020) CPRE, 'The countryside charity', has produced a couple of important presentations that are well worth your time to read and understand. The material was shown at a seminar given by Caroline Dibden, Vice-president CPRE, to members of the Havant Borough Residents Alliance yesterday at the Gazebo Garden. While we weren't present at … Continue reading CPRE ‘Call to Action’ on planning reform
Detail from the East Street ‘hard hat’ area
Following on from our recent set of 'tired but lovely' photographs, here's an altogether more disturbing set of images from East Street. Each one shows clear points of danger to pedestrians in what must surely be one of the worst kept Conservation Areas in Hampshire. In order, dangerously loose and broken tiling to the faces … Continue reading Detail from the East Street ‘hard hat’ area
Shoebox living – A warning for Havant?
A Sunday Times article on September 6 highlighted the issue of 'shoebox living', illustrated by a plan of six 'flats' in Southampton in a conversion from a former gas showroom. Retail unit converted to tiny flats in Shirley, Southampton. Developers are exploiting planning laws to convert empty banks, takeaways and barbers into tiny flats, causing … Continue reading Shoebox living – A warning for Havant?
North Street Arcade and its nitrate bill
You may have noticed the changes taking place during lock-down at the front of the North Street Arcade site. During the lockdown, the ill-starred Grastar Restaurant unit has been divided into two separate retail units while the former Dominos site has also been refurbished as a retail unit. The new flank walls suggest that the … Continue reading North Street Arcade and its nitrate bill
DCF – Kingscroft Farm development proposal
Last night’s Development Consultation (DCF) Forum at the Plaza was a well attended event. The DCF is a platform for a developer to share their proposal with the council and interested community groups along with the public before moving onto the planning application stage. This is a useful initiative by Havant Borough Council which enables … Continue reading DCF – Kingscroft Farm development proposal
Behind the boards at the Wessex site
There's more concrete pumping going on this morning as the foundations take shape quickly now, burying for good the eyesore which was the Wessex Construction yard. We still think it rather a sad that more effort wasn't put into investigation of the industrial archaeology of the old town gas works now long gone, briefly visible … Continue reading Behind the boards at the Wessex site
Portsmouth Water – site proposals
The first move by Portsmouth Water to redevelop their Havant premises has now broken cover with the publication by developers WYG of a briefing note concerning the first stage of an overall development programme. The image below shows West Street at the top, including the entrance to the existing headquarters building, Brockhampton Road to the … Continue reading Portsmouth Water – site proposals