Residents fear impact of plans for 195 new homes on Hayling Island

On Hayling Island, Barratt Homes is proposing to build 195 homes in a field north of Sinah Lane – a stone’s throw away from the seafront.

These plans have been in motion since June 2018, and following a break in council meetings earlier in the year due to coronavirus, the developers have appealed to the government’s Planning Inspectorate to make a decision.

On Thursday, October 29, Havant Borough Council will cast a vote on the plans, but this will now only serve as an advisory decision to the inspectorate.

Residents in Sinah Lane, many of whom have put up placards and signs opposing the plans, say they will continue to fight against Barratt Homes.

Doug Aylwood, 79, said: ‘I have been against this since the very start. It’s not just a case of not being in our back yard, but it’s about all the other problems that go with it.

‘The schools and GP surgeries won’t be able to cope, not to mention the traffic – which is dangerous enough as it is.

‘They [Barratt Homes] must be feeling confident to go to the Planning Inspectorate, but the bottom line is that most people around here are against it.’

Demand for housing on the island is very high, according to council officers, and this development would go a ‘long way’ towards Havant Borough Council's compulsory five-year housing supply.

But Sheila Boyce, 92, believes there are other green spaces on the island that should be considered.

She said: ‘I understand that we need housing but there must be better places than this.

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‘The traffic is bad enough as it is, so to me it would make more sense to use one of the green spaces towards the top of the island.’

Aside from infrastructure, one of the main issues is the impact on wildlife, say residents.

The field is popular with brent geese, which migrate to the Solent every year.

Barratt Homes has proposed to put a pond in the development for the geese – but Rosie Law, who is giving a deputation at Thursday’s meeting, says this isn't enough.

The 66-year-old said: ‘This is a site with a lot of constraints and a lot of controversy.

‘There are 540 objections and all sorts of issues, so I hope the Planning Inspectorate takes that on board.’

The meeting, which will be live-streamed via Skype, will commence at 5pm.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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