A referendum relating to the adoption of the Rowlands Castle neighbourhood plan took place on Tuesday 19 September 2023.
The question which was asked in the referendum was:
“Do you want East Hampshire District Council and the South Downs National Park Authority to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Rowlands Castle to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.”
The results are as follows:
- Number cast in favour of a Yes - 593 (96.5%)
- Number cast in favour of a No - 22 (3.5%)
- Turnout - 23.5%
More than half of those voting have voted in favour of the neighbourhood plan.
Election documentation
- Notice of election - Rowlands Castle neighbourhood plan (word 18 kb)
- Notice of poll - Rowlands Castle neighbourhood plan (word 18 kb)
Referendum documentation
Please have a look at the relevant referendum documentation below:
- Rowlands Castle neighbourhood development plan (pdf 4.4 mb)
- Referendum information sheet (pdf 244 kb)
- Information for voters (pdf 290 kb)
- Post examination decision statement (pdf 243 kb)
- Examiner's report - 26 June 2023 (pdf 384 kb)
- The summary of representations made at reg 16 (pdf 172 kb)
The referendum area is shown on the adjacent map. It is identical to the area which has previously been designated as the Rowlands Castle neighbourhood designation area.
- Neighbourhood area map (pdf 4.3 mb)
More information and documentation is available here
Key dates for this referendum
Register to vote
If you are an eligible elector and you are already on the register of electors for East Hampshire, you do not need to re-register.
Information on how to register to vote is available on the GOV.UK website. The deadline for applying to register to vote is Friday 1 September 2023.
Voting by post or proxy
If you are unable to get to your polling station on 19 September or would prefer to vote another way, you can register for a postal or proxy vote.
- Register to vote by post - the deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Monday 4 September 2023
- Register to vote by proxy - the deadline to apply to vote by proxy is 5pm on Monday 11 September 2023
Please note that you will need to print these forms as a signature is required in order to complete the form.
Completed forms can either be scanned and emailed to electoral.services@easthants.gov.uk or posted back to the address shown on the form.
Polling day
Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm on Tuesday 19 September 2023.
Outcome of the referendum
The counting of the votes must take place as soon as practicable after the close of poll and the date, time and location of the count must be advised to any counting observers in writing by the Counting Officer.
If more people vote ‘yes’ than ‘no’ in this referendum, then East Hampshire District Council and South Downs National Park Authority will adopt the plan as soon as practicable and use the neighbourhood plan to help it decide planning applications in Rowlands Castle as part of the development plan.
If more people vote ‘no’ than ‘yes’, then planning applications will be decided without using the neighbourhood plan as part of the development plan for the Rowlands Castle area.