A DIGITAL map will be used to pin point sites planned for development around Romsey, one of its creators said. 

The resource has been produced by Jennifer Adams and a small team from community partnership Romsey Future, in order to show areas such as local gaps and sites of importance for nature conservation (SINCs). 

It is intended to help the public understand the planning issues around the Test Valley.

It includes the sites put forward in the strategic housing and economic land availability assessment (SHELAA), a wishlist put forward by landowners and developers. The sites allocated for development in the local plan come from this list. 

The map also shows the locations of green corridors, SINCs, priority habitats, important woodlands, local gaps and proposed forest parks. The resource was first shown to a meeting of the Romsey Forum in June. 

READ MORE: Digital map created to save Romsey's countryside from mass development

Ms Adams said the map will be used to plot the sites allocated when the local plan is agreed. She said: ”We will be using it to inform our submissions on future planning applications and other work we do to support the local green environment. The current version brings together the relevant information available from Test Valley Borough Council and Hampshire County Council and our early thoughts regarding where green corridors are needed. As I explained, our expertise in creating this mapping is at an early stage and we will need to refine our ideas on this over the coming year. 

Draft local plan map (Image: TVBC)

“It is indeed our intention to update the map layers as required. So we will replace the SHELAA layer once the local plan has been agreed.

“We hope to engage with Test Valley Borough Council to encourage a more proactive and strategic approach to green infrastructure policy so that development is considered within a wider context so that opportunity/threats can more easily be identified.”

Some of the sites proposed for housing in the recent draft local plan include south of Ganger farm, east Romsey (340 homes); south of bypass, south Romsey (110 homes); Velmore Farm, Valley Park (1,070 homes); land at King Edwards Park, Chandler's Ford (44 extra care units); and land at Upton Lane, Nursling (80 homes).

Employment sites are also proposed at Abbey Park (5.9 ha); south of Botley Road, Romsey (1.2 ha); Test Valley Business Park (2.2 ha); Kennels Farm, North Baddesley (3.9 ha); by providing an extension to University of Southampton Science Park; and at Upton Lane, Nursling (8.5 ha). 

To view the map, visit qgiscloud.com/Necmapping/Green_26_May_with_priority_habitats/.