Causeway Farm

June 2010	Earlier in the year we submitted an application to Hampshire County Council (HCC) for a significant part of Causeway Farm to become common land or a Town Green, thus ensuring that it could never be developed. This application has now been deemed "duly made" by HCC, which means that the technical requirements have been met. We have already submitted a number of detailed evidence questionnaires from people who have used the land. The application will now be advertised by HCC, and a period allowed for any objections - and further letters of support. If you would like to provide evidence to support the application full information is available by clicking HERE
April 2010	“Serious overdevelopment” - LibDems The Causeway Farm group has put Causeway Farm clearly on the election map in Hampshire East by interviewing candidates to hear their views on the proposed massive development plans for Causeway Farm, just as the South Downs National Park (SDNP) is starting up. Lib Dem candidate Adam Carew supported our objections by stating that he has “major concerns that this is a serious overdevelopment”. Conservative candidate, Damian Hinds, stated that “I have full confidence in the planners and particularly the planning committee at EHDC to apply planning policy effectively and correctly, should any such planning application be forthcoming in the meantime.” He also underlined that, if elected, the Conservatives would “scrap the South East Plan, and with it the duty to find land for these taxing housing numbers.” The Labour Party candidate, Jane Edbrooke, said “Planning processes should and do provide an opportunity for residents to be involved. The conflicting needs of preserving the countryside and the needs of local residents to have housing will always be an emotive issue and there's is rarely a clear cut answer. We need a good planning framework at local government level - and active Councillors representing the needs of residents feeding into this.” However as we continue to demonstrate these houses are not needed for local people as there are as many people commuting out of Petersfield as in. This new accommodation will primarily result in more commuters moving into Petersfield – especially after the Hindhead tunnel is completed, and the SDNP has fully commenced operation. All three candidates have offered their support in helping with our representations to the relevant planning committee.
March 2010	From our friends at Petersfield Newswire some light relief - "Causeway Farm - No cause for alarm" click HERE
March 2010	Causeway Housing development refused. EHDC planners have refused plans for one new house on The Causeway stating that" The proposal is considered to represent an unacceptable visual intrusion, .... harmful to the character and quality of the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and confirmed South Downs National Park. If permitted, the development would set an undesirable precedent fur further such proposals which would significantly and adversely affect the character of the locality. The proposal is therefore contrary to policies GS3 and C1 of the East Hampshire District Local Plan: Second Review." Click HERE for full details.
March 2010	Developers announce public consultation March 12/13th, Council Chambers Petersfield. Click for full details and site plan. View the full site plans presented at the public consultation HERE.
December 2009	Press release re imminent planning application
March 2009	Designation of South Downs National Park, to include Causeway Farm.
September 2006	The Local Development Framework will eventually replace Local Plans, and is supported by a commitment to Community Involvement.
April 2005	The Inspector's Report is published showing the potential development of only 12 houses in Petersfield, north of Station Road, as a baseline site. Pennsfield has been relegated to a reserve site, with the addition of new reserve sites at Larcombe Road and Broadway Farm - all ahead of Causeway Farm in the rankings. Indeed the Inspector states, in putting all of these Petersfield sites towards the end of the reserve list that he hopes "that they will never be developed".
October 2003	Objections presented to development at Causeway Farm, and asking for its removal as a reserve site, at the Local Plan Public Inquiry.
July 2002	Phillips Build Ltd. have now withdrawn their appeal against EHDC's refusal of their planning application at Causeway Farm. Unless there is another application this means that the next substantive issue will be the Public Inquiry into the Local Plan during 2003. At this Inquiry we will be strongly arguing for Causeway Farm to be removed as one of the proposed reserve sites.
June 2002	Phillips Build Ltd. have now lodged an appeal against the EHDC decision to refuse their application for 275 dwellings.
May 2002	At a special meeting of the EHDC South Planning Committee on 23rd May the outline application submitted by Phillips Build Ltd. was unanimously rejected, with no abstentions. 284 letters of objection were received, along with many objections from organisations and agencies. A synopsis of these can be seen on the Objections (link) page of this site. Click here to see details of the application, the officer's report and decision on the EHDC web site.
April 2002	Phillips Build Ltd. submit outline planning application for 275 houses.
January 2002	Causeway Farm listed as a reserve site in the Local Plan Second Review second deposit draft. Public Inquiry to be held in Summer 2003. Plan scheduled to be adopted in 2005.
2001	Petersfield AONB is included within draft boundaries for the new South Downs National Park.
1999	13 hectares of Causeway Farm identified for housing in the Local Plan Second Review first deposit draft.
1998	The syndicate makes an agreement with D G Phillips Bosham Ltd (Registered No 02268334) and Phillips Build Ltd. (Registered No 00659053) for a conditional sale of the land subject to the site being identified for housing in the Local Plan, or receiving Planning Permission by January 2010.
1995	At a Public Inquiry the land is rejected for housing development from the First Review of the Local Plan by the Inspector as a "major incursion into the countryside."
1983	27 hectares (68 acres) of land at Causeway Farm purchased by a syndicate of 17 developers. Title HP482265, available at the Portsmouth District Land Registry.