Fareham council delays public consultation on plan for developments across the borough

The local plan will decide the priorities for development across the area, covering housing and commercial properties, as well an environmental protection, until 2036.

The council was due to hold a six-week public consultation on this work earlier this year, but this work will now take place this autumn due to the restrictions in place to curtail the coronavirus outbreak.

There have already been three public consultations as part of the development of the local plan.

Council leader Sean Woodward said: ‘This short delay to the plan-making process allows us to ensure that we have the methods, including virtual methods of consultation, and necessary controls in place to avoid putting anyone at risk if they wish to take part in the consultation.

‘To be clear however, it is our intention to hold the consultation physically if possible.’

It comes after two petitions to protect the greenbelt between Fareham and Gosport attracted more than 3,000 signatures and were submitted to the council last week.

The council had twice extended the deadline for the petitions to allow organisers more time to seek signatures due to lockdown restrictions.

Cllr Woodward added: ‘It is perhaps also pertinent to mention that there will be a significant strategic countryside gap maintained between Stubbington and Fareham plus the Meon Gap on which discussions regarding designation as green belt continue via the Partnership for South Hampshire Statement of Common Ground.’

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The council is yet to decide on two applications to build more than 1,400 homes in the Stubbington area.

Councillors have been advised the borough also faces pressure from Portsmouth City Council, which is looking to Fareham to accommodate 1,000 homes to help address the city’s housing need, which it claims it cannot meet within its own boundaries.

The council will ‘robustly challenge’ the unmet housing requirement from neighbouring areas, according to a statement from Fareham Borough Council.

After the autumn consultation, the council will submit what is called the Publication Plan to the government for an independent review.

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