ROMSEY, the rural market town I was lucky enough to grow up in and call home, with its historic charm and strong sense of community, is one of the most sought-after locations in Hampshire, regularly featuring in Top 10’s of places to live in the county.

However, our beautiful town and its rural surroundings are in a constant battle to balance the modest growth our community needs on the one hand, with developers’ desires to build large housing estates to maximise profits on the other. Only this week, an appeal was submitted on a planning application for 270 dwellings around Halterworth School, which was rejected by Test Valley Borough Council back in January.

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Romsey Town Hall (Image: Newsquest) When I speak to residents on the doorstep in and around Romsey, most people will acknowledge the need for more homes. Even if there are plans to build next door, the majority of residents I speak to are pragmatic. Whilst the scale of the building is a worry for many, it is not so much the building of new homes that is their main concern, but rather the lack of truly affordable housing and the complete lack of infrastructure to support the developments. 

Affordable housing, whether for first time buyers or those wanting to downsize, remains in short supply. Developments are required to include affordable options, however developers often find ways to reduce their numbers and without tougher legislation in place from government, councils are left powerless to prevent some developers prioritising profit over community need. There is also the question of what counts as ‘affordable’ in this more affluent part of Hampshire.

But whether affordable or not, with each new development, the town’s infrastructure becomes more strained. If infrastructure investments do not keep pace with a growing population, residents will feel the impacts daily, from increased traffic and limited school places to overstretched healthcare services and lack of GP appointments.

We know we need more housing, but future developments must genuinely prioritise truly affordable housing and invest in essential infrastructure. Development must be in the right locations too, where the community has the greatest need. Not just bolted on to where it is most convenient and cost effective.

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The government’s new housing targets bring this need for balance into sharp focus. These targets must be supported by legislative changes that will allow councils to hold developers accountable, ensure affordable units are built, and advocate for infrastructure improvements before new housing projects go up. Legislation is also needed prevent the kind of land-banking that has left the Romsey brewery site undeveloped for over 30 years.

Romsey will grow, that is inevitable. But as it does, we must ensure that it maintains its sense of place, retains the qualities which make it such a loved place to live and allow it to thrive, without compromising what makes it feel like home.

Geoff Cooper,
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Romsey and Southampton North