A ROMSEY councillor has provided an update on various emerging large developments around the town.

Cllr John Parker, a member of the planning committees on Test Valley Borough Council and Romsey Town Council, updated the Romsey Forum meeting on March 23.

Cllr Parker also gave an update on the major new development at Whitenap. He said: “The current Local Plan has allocated land at Whitenap for around 1,300 houses with a local centre, a primary school and a business employment area. The Ashfield Partnership submitted an outline planning application in May 2022. This application was not the full detail but one that defined the site, the entrances and proposed the locations of some of the facilities. 

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Writing on Romsey Forum's Facebook page, Cllr Parker added: “This application was not in accord with the Local Plan, in particular, because the pedestrian/cycle bridge across the railway was not included. Since then, TVBC has been engaging with the developers to persuade them to modify the application to become compliant. Eventually, there appears to be some movement. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that this outline application will come to the planning committee before autumn of this year.”

Cllr Parker gave an update on two major plans on the horizon. He said: “Progress with implementing a scheme based on the South of Town Centre masterplan is currently awaiting the completion of two studies. The first study is one to develop further the proposals for the redevelopment of the bus station site including a new transport hub, some residential accommodation and an improvement to the Holbrook Stream. The second is to propose options for the building of a modern replacement for the Crosfield Hall, probably on a new site near the Romsey Rapids. Both of these studies are expected after the elections probably around June.

“There are proposals to build a further 400 houses south of the existing Kings Chase development accessed through the existing estate. Although a planning application has been submitted to determine the detail required in its environmental statement no application to build the houses has yet been submitted. The site in question is not scheduled for development in the current Local Plan.”

Cllr Parker also reported: “Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) continues to work on the revision of the Local Plan to extend it through to 2040. 

“Current key dates are: Reg 18 Stage 2 – Q3 2023; Reg 19 (final draft of the revised Local Plan for consultation) – Q3 2024; submission to government for examination – Q2 2025; examination in public – Q3 2025; and adoption – Q2 2026.”