New plans will help EHDC shape where development happens, protect local character and demand better-quality homes and infrastructure.
East Hampshire District Council is taking a fresh approach to planning with a new Local Plan and an innovative supplementary plan designed to raise the bar for development so it meets the highest possible standards.
On Thursday 12 November, Cabinet agreed to launch the Government’s new 30-month Local Plan process and develop a supplementary plan, which is a relatively new planning tool that would put EHDC among the first councils in the country to use it.
A plan for growth that's on our terms
The new Local Plan will set out where development should happen and what must come with it, including homes, jobs and infrastructure, while seeking to minimise the impact on East Hampshire’s countryside, landscape and environment.
It will apply to the parts of East Hampshire outside the South Downs National Park.
The council will use the work it has developed over the last few years to develop the Local Plan which includes technical evidence and important public feedback.
The first step in the new process will be a six-week public scoping consultation, starting on 7 December, asking residents, businesses and other stakeholders to help shape the vision and priorities for the Local Plan.
Having an up-to-date plan matters. It gives the council and local communities a stronger say over where homes are built, the infrastructure they need and the standards that developments must meet. Without one, decisions are more likely to be driven by individual planning applications and appeals.
Raising the bar on design for the district
Alongside the Local Plan, EHDC will develop a supplementary plan focused on the quality of new development.
It will set out expectations for good design, local character, green spaces, landscaping, nature recovery, climate resilience, parking and movement.
Crucially, this supplementary plan can be prepared more quickly than a full Local Plan – which means the council can start strengthening its expectations for development while the longer-term strategy is taking shape.
A six-week public scoping consultation on the supplementary plan will also begin on 7 December (so this will be running at the same time as the Local Plan consultation).
A major challenge - and an opportunity
Government changes to national planning policy in December 2024 almost doubled East Hampshire’s annual housing target to more than 1,000 homes.
That presents a significant challenge in a district where 57 per cent of the land lies within the South Downs National Park. EHDC is responsible for planning in the remaining 43 per cent.
The council has repeatedly challenged the Government’s approach to calculating housing need in areas affected by national parks, but the requirements remain unchanged.
Cllr Richard Millard, EHDC Leader, said: “We cannot control the number of homes Government tells us to plan for. But we can take control of how East Hampshire responds.
“These plans are our opportunity to shape growth around what matters to local people: the right infrastructure and services, high-quality design, development that respects our countryside and landscape, and places that reflect the character of our district.
“We’ve already done a huge amount of work and listened carefully to our communities. Now we need local people to help us turn that work into a clear vision for East Hampshire’s future.
"The first consultations begin on 7 December and are an opportunity for people to help shape the scope, vision and priorities of both plans. It is not a consultation on specific development sites, this will come at a later date. This is an early stage in the process and is an important opportunity to influence the direction of planning in East Hampshire. I would encourage everyone with an interest in the future of their area to get involved."
Ahead of the formal consultations, engagement specialists Meeting Place will be speaking directly to residents and businesses across the district through community pop-ups, visits to local businesses and conversations in neighbourhoods.
This early engagement is designed to capture people’s everyday experiences of housing, employment and life in East Hampshire, helping the council build a broader understanding of local needs and priorities as the plans develop. It is separate from, and does not replace, the two formal six-week consultations beginning on 7 December. Those consultations will provide everyone with the opportunity to comment specifically on the scope, vision and priorities of the Local Plan and the Supplementary Plan.