HHRA Update 6 August 2025
- pamelacharlwood
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
Bargate application to build up to 62 homes on land west of Old Street
The papers for the planning committee meeting next Wednesday were published late yesterday and I am sorry - but sadly unsurprised - to report that the recommendation from the planning officers is for the councillors to approve Bargate's application for outline planning consent.
You can view the report via the attached link; I have included the entire committee reports pack as the report on the Five Year Housing Land Supply is highly relevant to the Old Street debate. Regrettably, Fareham can only demonstrate 3.8 years' housing land supply so is well short of the five years required. It is therefore on the back foot and there must be a presumption of approval for applications unless serious adverse effects can be shown; in that respect, there has been no help from the official bodies such as HCC Highways, HCC Countryside, HCC as the Flood Authority, FBC's Ecology advisers (also from HCC), Natural England and the like - all have, with minor reservations said 'Yes, OK by us'. The lead NHS funding body asked for a one off payment of £35,706 which Bargate will have to pay - we can all ponder what that might buy.
I shall attend the meeting at 2pm Wednesday 13 August at the civic centre and make a deputation though I think there is little that can be said at this stage which will make a difference.
If the application is approved, at this stage it is only an outline application and the report sets out the many ways in which further approval will need to be sought by Bargate if it goes ahead. We shall be extremely vigilant if that is where we end up.
Crofton Saints FC application for a post and rail fixed barrier and pathway/spectator hardstanding at Seafield Park
This is also included in the planning committee reports pack linked above, with a recommendation that it should be approved.
Osborne View licensing application
At the last count about twenty comments had been made on the application made by Hall & Woodhouse, two in favour and the rest raising concerns about the late night opening which it would allow. The HHRA comments are on our website www.hhra.org.uk Latest News. I shall attend the Licensing Panel at 10.00 on Tuesday 12 August at the civic centre and speak briefly and I know at least one near neighbour is also intending to do so. If any other HHRA member is planning to attend and speak, do let me know as it would be a good idea to liaise over who says what.
Crofton Lane sewer repair
Southern Water tell us that the sewer has now been repaired, so it remains only for the road to be re-surfaced.
Hampshire Open Studios 16 - 25 August
A reminder about this event which may distract us from the more negative matters we have been dealing with. I'm sure the yellow booklets will soon start appearing and meanwhile you can log onto the website: https://hampshireopenstudios.org.uk/about. You will see studio numbers 290 to 297 are all our neighbours here in Hill Head. (Incidentally in the last Update I referred to David Brims' studio as being at 27 Knights Bank Road - it is actually 25, though I think you might have been able to work that out on approaching it!)
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