The front page format has been much the same since the current site was launched back in 2018 - that's over five hundred articles ago - so the webmaster felt it was time for a change. If you've not taken a look for a while, then click the HCS logo - the St. Faith's image … Continue reading The HCS website gets a spring clean
National Highways works on the A27 Havant corridor
As if the A27 wasn't bad enough already, here's the link to National Highways' page on works in progress and works planned. Click the image above for details.
Planning system failures at Havant and Bracknell raise wider concerns over local authority strategic cloud deployments
On 16 April 2026, press coverage by BBC Berkshire and the Daily Telegraph highlighted Bracknell Forest Borough Council’s troubled rollout of the Arcus planning system, prompting a detailed online apology to Bracknell Forest residents. click the image to read the full statement from Bracknell Forest Borough Council This may be the first time that problems … Continue reading Planning system failures at Havant and Bracknell raise wider concerns over local authority strategic cloud deployments
Havant Town Centre – A renewed focus on Placemaking
Havant Civic Society believes Placemaking to have an important role in developing Havant Town Centre into a thriving destination to visit, work and to which residents can have pride in their town. Placemaking can be viewed and defined as a collaborative, multi-stakeholder process that goes beyond urban design and planning, to foster local identity, community, and economic vitality. Effective … Continue reading Havant Town Centre – A renewed focus on Placemaking
The Gazebo Garden – Closed by the Council until further notice
Regular visitors who cherish the peace and tranquillity of this lovely space will already have noticed the barriers around the Gazebo Garden in the Pallant car park, so we would like to give a brief explanation for the temporary closure. According to a letter issued on Havant Borough Council’s headed paper, the Principal Building Inspector … Continue reading The Gazebo Garden – Closed by the Council until further notice
Local Government Reorganisation Update
On 25 March, the Government announced its decision on the arrangements for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Havant Borough Council (HBC) has updated its LGR web page (Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)) in a cursory and rather unhelpful way, so this article draws on the more informative Hampshire … Continue reading Local Government Reorganisation Update
New Town Centre Business Group Established
A recent meeting held at St Faith's Church with town centre businesses, agreed to Havant Civic Society establishing the group within its Placemaking and Public Realm role. The Civic Society has an effective working relationship with Havant Borough Council and the general public, as well as other organisations, and has a credible reputation to co-ordinate … Continue reading New Town Centre Business Group Established
Havant Banking Hub Announcement
Following the recent closure of the Lloyds and Halifax branches in Havant precinct, a Banking Hub has recently been announced (HBC website 19 February ). I am surprised and delighted about this as I had been told by two Lloyds Bank employees (from very different parts of the company) that there will not be a … Continue reading Havant Banking Hub Announcement
HBC’s ‘Strategic Commissioning Programme’ comes under scrutiny
Why does this post matter? It matters because Havant Borough’s planning record has been compromised. The HBC Strategic Commissioning Programme appeared to have left the Borough's planning archive so damaged at the point of the cutover in September 2025 that officers were forced into a series of reactive database 'fixes', almost certainly without a coherent … Continue reading HBC’s ‘Strategic Commissioning Programme’ comes under scrutiny
HCS report of the Southleigh Development Consultation Forum, 27 Jan 2026
IntroductionSummary report of the meetingOverviewPurpose and Format Bloor Homes Presentation Community Group Contributions (5 minutes each)Councillor Questions Bloor responsesKey ObservationsFull record of the meeting - Video and text transcriptHCS Editorial comment Introduction This post contains a summary report of the Bloor Homes Southleigh Development Consultation Forum held on 27 January 2026 at Havant Borough Council's … Continue reading HCS report of the Southleigh Development Consultation Forum, 27 Jan 2026