A Planning Application F.37146/OUT/JH for outline permission of 275 dwellings and associated access from The Causeway & Sussex Road, was made on 18-April-2002.

This was timed very shortly after the final date for public comment on the second review of the Local Plan and a year or so before the Public Inquiry into that plan - potentially forcing yet another Public Inquiry - at the expense of the Council tax payers of East Hampshire District Council. However it is believed that these costs could be claimed from the appellant given the unreasonable nature of this application, if an appeal is lodged against refusal.

The creation of the South Downs National Park, probably in 2004, is also a threat to the developers.

The application shows that the main access to the site would be via the current Hangers Way footpath to the east of The Causeway, opposite Cranford Road. The entire Cranford Road, Hangers Way, and The Causeway junction would be permanently controlled by traffic lights.

The application details the closure of the service road in front of houses on the West side of The Causeway.

The application shows emergency access for fire engines etc. a cycleway and footpath between 25 and 27 Sussex Road, at a location where there is no footpath on Sussex Road, parking opposite and a junction to a residential road on the North side.

Supporting the application is a submission to Hampshire County Council for Junction design approval. This is based on a small amount of data collected in one day in February 2000, before the nearby Tesco opened. It also includes a Road Safety audit conducted on a day in August 2000 again before Tesco opened and during the school holidays. This includes scenarios to support development of over 500 houses.

The application includes 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres) of houses and land not owned by the developers and whose owners do not currently wish to sell. The developers claim this as previously developed land.

The application and the related papers referred to above can be viewed at the East Hampshire District Council planning department at Penns Place Petersfield between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday-Friday.