The PC meeting on 9th July will include an initial discussion on the following possible development listed in the TVBC Local Plan.

The Government’s target to build 1.5 million new homes across England over this Parliament between 2024 and 2029 has resulted in TVBC housing requirement increasing from 524 to 934 homes per year across the borough, a 78% increase. This equates to a minimum of 15,878 homes to be delivered over the 17-year Plan period from 2025 to 2042. Due to a lack of transitional arrangements, TVBC are no longer able to demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply, and we are now subject to speculative development.

In the Regulation 18 Stage 2 document, a rural housing requirement was proposed of 542 homes over the plan period. The delivery of this was to be met through existing committed housing supply and communities bringing forward locally driven schemes including through designated active neighbourhood plans.

However, due to the increase in TVBC housing need, TVBC has had to review how to deliver this across the borough. The delivery of the spatial strategy in the rural area, will still be met by committed housing supply and communities bringing forward locally driven schemes, but alongside this, the draft Local Plan is now having to allocate homes in the rural area.

Proposed allocations.

The proposed Revised Regulation 18 Local Plan identifies how the TVBC is seeking to meet the Government’s increase in the housing requirement for Test Valley. This includes a proposed housing allocation in Upper Clatford as summarised below (and in the image above):

Location: North of Red Rice Road, Upper Clatford

Number of houses - 20

Relevant TVBC Policy - NA21

You are welcome to attend the next Parish Council meeting at which this possible development will be discussed for the first time. It is expected that one or both of the TVBC Borough Councillors will be in attendance.