Frequently Asked Questions

Following the public consultation, we have included new questions below to respond to common themes of interest.

The Site

  • The site is greenfield/pastureland for grazing horses and haylage with a small farm building along the western boundary.

  • The site is c.9 hectares.

The Proposals

  • A full planning application seeking detailed permission for the delivery of the proposals.

  • The proposals will deliver 40% affordable housing in compliance with Policy CP13 of the adopted East Hants Local Plan and the emerging Local Plan.

  • The gateway location of the site has been considered and respected during the design development process.

  • If approved, the scheme will provide funds towards the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). These funds can go towards a wide range of local infrastructure including healthcare facilities, education facilities and highways.

  • The site is adjacent to the Alton Neighbourhood Plan Area and falls within the Beech Parish Council administrative area. Therefore, the policies of the Alton Neighbourhood Plan do not apply to this site. However, design principles will be incorporated where deemed appropriate.

Housing

  • The housing mix will include:

    • 12 x 1 bedroom homes

    • 16 x 2bedroom homes

    • 30 x 3 bedroom homes

    • 35 x 4 bedroom homes

    • 6 x 5 bedroom homes

  • A mix of 1–4-bedroom properties will be provided as affordable homes.

  • The proposed densities for the site will range from 16 to 34 dwellings/Ha with the lowest density adjacent the western boundary being the edge of settlement. Densities can increase gradually moving east further into the site to make good use of the available land while having less impact on the gateway setting.

  • Homes will be built using materials that reflect the character of the local area. This will include traditional brick, tile hanging, boarding and flint elevation under plain tile or slate roofing.

Environment and Landscape

  • A detailed tree survey has been carried out and all the significant trees or groups of trees will be retained. Any removals will be of smaller, poorer quality specimens.

  • Ackender Woodland lies to the south of the site and is identified as Ancient woodland. The woodland area is also identified as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).

    The proposed layout aims to respect retained trees and the buffer zones of the ancient woodland.

  • A 10% Biodiversity Net Gain will be delivered by the proposed development. The strategy to deliver this will include off-site chalk grassland creation. The majority of existing hedgerows are to be retained, and new hedgerows incorporated throughout the scheme.

  • The presence of chalk in the surrounding area has been considered in relation to the proposed landscape measures and responded to accordingly. Further details can be found within the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment. Native species will be planted as part of the landscaping proposals.

  • A comprehensive suite of ecological baseline surveys and assessments has been undertaken to determine the existing habitats and protected/notable species at the site.

    The proposed layout aims to minimise the loss of the most valuable habitat for these species. A strategic green corridor is proposed to the west of the Site which will provide habitat connectivity between off-site woodlands, including the designated Ancient Woodland to the south, increasing dispersal opportunities for a variety of wildlife.

Flooding and Drainage

  • The site is located within Flood Zone 1. There is a low risk of flooding across the majority of the site, with areas of potential surface water flood risk identified along the western and northern boundaries respectively although these are generally localised low spots within the site.

    A series of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) including attenuation ponds will be incorporated as well as soakaways and rain gardens. This will mitigate any potential impact from surface water runoff from the proposed development and this will also manage any natural surface water flooding within the site.

  • Capacity checks will be undertaken for the foul and clean water network to identify if there are any capacity issues or a requirement for network upgrades to support the development. These upgrades, if required, will be delivered by the respective utility company.

Impact on neighbouring area

  • The proposed development seeks to protect the rural character of the site and the separation between the settlements of Alton and Beech.

  • A landscape buffer will be integrated between existing and new homes to protect the privacy of nearby residents. A buffer on the northern boundary will provide enhanced screening of the development to the homes fronting Pertuis Avenue / Whitedown Lane.

  • A noise assessment has been submitted as part of the planning application. The assessment has been carried out in accordance with all relevant national and local policies and follow government and industry guidance to ensure appropriate noise levels across the development.

  • A lighting impact assessment has been undertaken and submitted as part of the planning application.

    The lighting will be designed in accordance with British Standards to the lowest level acceptable for the required tasks to be carried out safely. Consultation will be carried out with ecology to determine which areas are deemed sensitive and the lighting will be assessed on these areas to ensure they meet relevant current guidance.

  • The site is not covered by any statutory or non-statutory designations for landscape character or quality. The proposed development would be in close proximity to the existing built-up edge of Alton between Basingstoke Road and Whitedown Lane and the majority of the site’s established framework will be retained without resulting in significant harm to the landscape and visual character of the surrounding countryside.

  • The site is located in close proximity to Alton town centre. Alton Railway station is within walking and cycling distance, providing direct connections to London Waterloo every 30 minutes, as well as wider connections to Farnham (10 minute journey), Aldershot (20 minute journey) and Woking (35 minute journey).

Highways and Transport

  • The site will be accessible by car, public transport, cycling and foot. Vehicular access will be provided via a T junction from the A339.

  • Junction capacity modelling has been undertaken within the Transport Assessment to assess the impact of the development on the local highway network.

  • Safe and secure access for all modes of travel has been considered as part of the proposed access strategy.

    Pedestrian and cycle routes and crossing facilities have been incorporated to provide suitable crossing points that meet with current design guidance, minimise the safety risk and encourage the use of sustainable modes of travel.

    As part of the planning application, an independent Stage 1 Road Safety Audit has been undertaken to assess the safety and accessibility of the proposed vehicle and active travel access arrangements.

  • As part of the identification of the access arrangements for the site, traffic surveys and speed surveys have been undertaken on the local highway network surrounding the site.

    The access arrangements proposed have been assessed against the surveyed baseline conditions on the surrounding road network. The development could come forward with the access arrangement proposed and this would have minimal impact on the recorded delays at the A339/B3349.

Planning

  • The site forms a draft allocation (ref. ALT4 – Land at Whitedown Lane Alton) within the Emerging East Hampshire Local Plan (2021-2040) for residential uses.

    It has been promoted to the East Hants Land Availability Assessment (2023) under ref. BEE-010 ‘Land at Whitedown Lane’ for residential uses.

    EHDC is currently unable to demonstrate a five year housing land supply of deliverable sites. In March 2024, an Appeal Decision at Mount Royal demonstrated that EHDC can only demonstrate a 3.59 years supply.

Programme

  • Subject to the approval of the application by the Council, construction will commence in Q4 2025.

  • A Construction Management Plan will be put in place to manage things such as this. This would be secured by condition on the application and will be implemented during the construction phase of development.

  • During the pre-application process, c.1,600 leaflets providing information on the scheme were sent to near neighbours in Beech and Alton. Alongside this, a social media campaign ran for the two-week consultation and covered a radius of 16km.

  • A project website was set up along with a dedicated email and phone number, and 72 pieces of feedback were received. All feedback has been recorded and responded to within the Statement of Community Engagement

  • A Construction Management Plan (CMP) will be put in place to manage this process. The CMP would be secured by condition on the planning application and implemented during the construction phase of development.