APPENDIX A

Current Financial situation

APPENDIX B

Basingstoke and Deane ‘Key Themes’ Questionnaire

Introduction

1. Do you agree that the key themes that we have identified are the right ones (see contents list on page 4 of the Key Themes Document)?

No

2. If not, what other themes do you think should be included?

Item d - Climate change, renewable energy and biodiversity

It is considered a mistake to include these as single theme; there is often real conflict between these items. There is no single “green ticket”

Infrastructure

What infrastructure (see Appendix on page 44 of the Key themes document for full list) do you think is necessary to address existing gaps and support new development?

All the items in the infrastructure list are extremely important and this is a fairly comprehensive list.

It is considered that water matters must be considered as a separate topic, not just in terms of a utility service but also in terms of landscape and biodiversity.

Para 1.9 – “The A33 corridor to the north of Basingstoke town provides good access to Reading...”

This statement is surely incorrect. The only “good access” to the north in the Borough is the A34 in the west. The main urban area of Basingstoke has only the heavily congested A33 and A339 roads to the north.

4. Do you have any views which should be considered in preparing our Delivery and Implementation Plan that will support the Core Strategy?

Infrastructure should be at the centre of all development other than the smallest schemes. Adequate new infrastructure must be provided before development takes place, rather than after and must be suitable for any proposed further development. It should be borne in mind that much infrastructure is not controlled by the Borough, other authorities’ priorities and resources will change. It is no use the Borough planning an integrated development if essential elements are removed by other bodies.

An example is Taylor’s Farm without school, doctor, pharmacy other than already overloaded neighbouring services. The planned school was removed from its programme by HCC after development was under way.
 

Regeneration and renewal

5. Should the borough actively seek to regenerate and improve existing urban areas of the

borough?

Yes

6. What should be the priorities for regeneration and renewal schemes in the borough?

Refurbishment of existing residential areas, particularly deteriorating public housing stock.

It may be unwise to put much emphasis in LDF documentation on such topics as education, training or income depravation as these are things over which the Borough has no control and only limited influence.

7. If funds are known to be an issue, should efforts be concentrated on lower cost measures? If so, what types of improvements could be made?

The regeneration of existing housing areas should be first on the list.

Local economy

8. Should consideration be given to the re-use of some of the borough’s existing employment land for other types of development (such as retail, housing)?

Yes

Flexibility is vital in a fast changing economy, but it is important that this is not used as a “wedge” to gain more land for housing outside the agreed allocations.

9. Should consideration be given to locating certain types of employment uses (such as those that have 24 hour operations) to areas away from existing residential areas to minimise the negative impacts of the business activity?

Yes

Only in cases where there is a real impact on residents, as journeys to work need to be shortened where possible.

10. Should there be scope to release greenfield sites on the edge of the urban area for employment related purposes, if the need arises to support the local economy?

Yes

Only where this is part of a planned extension of the urban area with necessary new infrastructure.

11. If you do not support the potential approaches identified above, what should the strategy for employment land be based around?

The continual expansion of urban areas should not be taken as “given”.

It is necessary to avoid a “development spiral” of more housing being built requiring more employment requiring more commercial development requiring more housing etc.

Climate change, renewable energy and biodiversity

12. Should the LDF Core Strategy be seeking energy standards that are in excess of those set out in the Building Regulations?

Yes

But only if there is the ability and the will to enforce such standards. The reality may a series of lost Planning appeals.

13. Should the LDF Core Strategy include a target for low carbon and renewable energy installations?

No

The Borough must certainly consider the carbon implications of all activity, but targets can be “fudged” and renewable energy is very prone to “tokenism”.

14. How do we best ensure the delivery of a network of green spaces that will improve biodiversity and opportunities for recreation?

The existing areas with the sought after diversity must be protected, both within their boundaries and the adjacent areas on which they depend for their character. Those areas within or beside urban areas are particularly valuable as “green lungs” for local people and  allowing access without car journeys. These areas are often thought suitable for development if not being used for agriculture. The connections are vital to avoid a series of isolated patches which may soon lose their diverse character.

There must be an acknowledged difference between recreation needs and biodiversity, often the former requires a more managed “garden” landscape while the latter means a wild, often inaccessible area, with mud and untidy dead vegetation. It needs to be accepted that there is often conflict between the needs of a natural landscape and the wishes of residents. An example is the wish of local residents to “tidy up” ancient woodland by removing dead wood, brambles and lay hard path surfaces to paths.

The other conflict that needs to be addressed is that between the natural environment and tourism, they are often not complimentary. Tourism can be a polluting industry with traffic infrastructure, buildings and increased use of energy and water.

Education and health

15. What should be the priority in the preparation of a Strategy for Education in the borough?

Any Strategy for Education in the borough must start with the fact that BDBC are not the education authority. The education system is in a state of flux with new providers being proposed including new partnerships between different interests. The priority must be flexibility for rapid reaction to change.

16. Is it appropriate to consider concentrating resources at the secondary education level (that is, years11-16/18) on improvements to existing schools?

No.

It is wrong to single out any particular age group if this is at the expense of others. It can equally be argued that priority should be given to the early years.

17. Should a University presence and a learning campus be encouraged in Basingstoke? If so, what form should they take and where should they be located?

If an existing University wishes to set up a branch in the town then this should be encouraged. The “learning campus” seems to mean whatever one wishes it to mean. What about BCOT? Is this not already such a campus? Would a new institution not merely dilute what is already available? There is certainly a shortage of courses in science and technology in Basingstoke but this may reflect BCOT adapting to the market. One cannot simply conjure up a University of Basingstoke.

Any such facilities must be within easy reach of Basingstoke town centre for ease of access by students using public transport.

18. What are the key facilities and services to be addressed at local neighbourhood or village level that would most improve the health and wellbeing of residents?

All residents need access to a doctors’ surgery and a pharmacy within walking distance to all except small isolated settlements.

Access for all to facilities for exercise and sport within walking distance, including a footpath system for informal walking. This should not be taken as meaning facilities in buildings such as commercial gyms.

Rural areas

19. Is the approach of identifying key settlements as service centres for other smaller settlements the right one?

Yes

20. What are your reasons for this?

It is unrealistic for smaller villages to have a full range of services.

21. Do you agree with identifying a proposed settlement hierarchy of:

(i) primary service centre (wide range of facilities) – Basingstoke town

(ii) service centres (reasonable range of facilities) – Tadley, Overton,Whitchurch

(iii) local centres (small range of facilities) – Kingsclere, Old Basing, Oakley, Bramley

(iv) villages (at least two facilities) - Woolton Hill, Sherborne St John, Sherfield on Loddon, Silchester,

North Waltham, St Mary Bourne, Burghclere, Headley, Ashford Hill, Preston Candover, Upton Grey,

Penwood, Bishops Green?

Yes

Comments

Old Basing (iii) local centres) is an anomaly in this list, being on the edge of the urban area and depends on the nearby Chineham district centre for many services. Thus one could argue that in “settlement” terms, Old Basing and Chineham (including Taylor’s Farm), form a settlement.  The Basingstoke to Reading railway line manifests segregation from Basingstoke town, at least as much as, say, the modest remaining land gap between Popley and Sherborne St John.

22. What forms / scale of development should be permitted for each type of settlement?

It is hard to generalise as each settlement is unique. It will be important to avoid turning small villages with their own characters into “idenikit” suburbs.

23. Should the provision of affordable housing be supported in rural areas and should the principle of providing an element of market homes to support the affordable dwellings be considered?

Yes

24. Are Parish Plans the best way of identifying the aspirations of rural communities, including affordable housing, and other services and facilities that may be needed?

Yes
 

Basingstoke town centre and district and local centres

25. Do you consider an extension to Basingstoke’s town centre boundary is desirable?

Yes

If yes, do you consider the proposed new boundary is appropriate (See page 37 of the Key themes document)?

Yes

If no, why not and what areas should be in or outside the town centre boundary?

26. Should certain parts of the town centre be designated for certain activities? If so, which ones and for what purpose?

If the aims expressed in the Education section (e) are to be realised then space will be needed for expanded facilities, whether a new learning campus, a University or an expanded BCOT. An “academic quarter” would be an enhancement.

It would be prudent to avoid an overt entertainment district when such areas can become centres for “industrial drinking”

27. Should we seek to protect and enhance the district and local centres around the borough and how should we do this?

District centres could be changed to encourage a wider range of activities as shops close under the expansion of supermarkets. To avoid rather dismal landscapes of fast food and charity shops other services need to be found, even if this impacts o rental income of commercial landlords.

28. Should we allow a wider range of uses within local shopping parades to enable them to continue to serve the day-to-day needs of local communities?

Yes

Culture, Leisure and Recreation

29. Do you consider that the approach to achieving the ambition is correct or should alternatives be considered?

The approach is reasonable, but it is hoped that much thought will be given to balancing priorities, particularly with leisure and “green issues”

Sports provision, for instance, is likely to conflict with countryside issues and new sports fields will conflict with biodiversity ambitions.(A football stadium has the impact of a large factory and should be considered commercial development)

Leisure activities in the countryside may soon lead to pressure for “attractions” involving more concrete and buildings. This needs careful management.

30. Do you consider that the priority in terms of culture, leisure and recreational provision should focus on:

• effectively maintaining what we already have

• improving the cultural provision in central Basingstoke

• improving the quality of our public open spaces

• improving the quality and quantity of recreational and sporting facilities

• improving the provision of community facilities

• improving links from our towns and villages into the countryside

• providing more allotments where there is local demand.

Comments

These seem reasonable.
 

Accommodating Housing Needs

31. Do you consider it would be appropriate to provide an average of 740 new homes per year in the borough to 2026, to meet the locally-generated housing need?

No

These numbers have been handed down from the centre with no close consideration of the local conditions. Numbers of new homes must be based on a real assessment of the Borough’s needs.

32. Would this level of new housing meet our economic aspirations for the borough?

Impossible to assess.

33. Do you consider that the current aspiration of 40% affordable homes on larger sites, and the split of 25% social rented and 15% shared ownership, are still appropriate?

These ratios will need to be more flexible as market conditions change.

Do you have any further comments that you wish to make?

Setting numbers of new homes in the Borough by central government without real local consultation will conflict with the much discussed issues of sustainability.

This system will lead to more disorganised urban sprawl as settlements grow and merge to a background of ceaseless commuting from one featureless town to another