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Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Martin (28th Jul 2009 - 12:21:23) All EHDC have now published the draft development brief for Lowsley Farm. 155 new houses are proposed for the site which runs from the end of Yeoman Lane to Griggs Green. Development will need to consist of the usual mix of larger homes and affordable housing interspersed with open areas. Access will be through Yeomans Lane at the Eastern end and also via a new access road out to Longmoor Road to serve the Western end of the development. Does anyone else feel that Liphook is being totally overdeveloped? 155 new homes is a substantial number and this is only the first phase it appears ! If anyone would like to comment at this early stage the contact at EHDC is Tom Bell at tom.bell@easthants.gov.uk or Planning Policy, EHDC, Penns Place, Petersfield, GU31 4EX. This is only a development draft at present but I am sure that it will not take long for a developer to lodge detailed plans for the site and the whole battle to save what is left of the rural outskirts of our village will start.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Chris (29th Jul 2009 - 08:03:30) The Lowsley Farm Draft development brief is going to the North East Area Forum for public consultation on the 15th of September at 6.30 at Lindford village hall according to Tom Bell. Unless you have second sight you would be hard-pushed to get this from the EHDC web site. There is a link to the "Lowsley farm Development Brief" which is embedded obscurely and is therefore in the public domain: www.easthants.gov.uk/ehdc... According to EHDC "...the SHLAA outlines the most up to date housing supply situation in the District. Liphook falls within the 'central area' of the district as regards housing supply in the SHLAA. Monitoring of the housing supply happens annually through the Annual Monitoring Report Published in December each year...". [Editor - as far as I can see, this relates to properties that have now already been built - see maps.google.co.uk ]

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Martin (29th Jul 2009 - 10:18:33) Hi Chris Link to the brief on the EHDC is as follows; www.easthants.gov.uk/ehdc/.. Makes intersesting and somewhat worrying reading. Regards

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Neil (29th Jul 2009 - 10:23:37) I think Liphook got over developed a long time ago, what use to be a fantastic village to live in has turned into a town without the infrastructure.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Chris (29th Jul 2009 - 11:08:03) Sorry, I advised the wrong link; Martin's is the up to date one. There is nothing about infrastructure improvements and along with the Silent Garden proposal we have nearly 300 new houses planned. I hope that the Parish Council will be at the Lindford meeting and that as many people as possible will turn up to voice an opinion.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Martin (29th Jul 2009 - 12:07:33) Hi I agree with all your comments. I think Liphook is in real danger of being totally swamped with development. Surely the whole EcoTown project should be taking the pressure off our village in terms of the development vultures. I would encourage as many people as possible to come to the meeting in Lindford Village Hall at 18.30 on the 15th September. We need to take a stand as a community and not let ourselves be steamrollered all the time. This is after all our village not the developers. Let's try and see this over development off once and for all. Regards

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Martin (22nd Sep 2009 - 12:37:58) All Please be aware that the draft development brief is now available on the EHDC website and is open for public consultation up until 5.00 p.m on Friday 30th October 2009. Link is as follows; www.easthants.gov.uk/ehdc/... Access to the site is proposed from the end of Yeomans Lane and also from on the blind bend near Griggs Green Farm on the Longmoor Road. Both access points are totally inappropriate and I would encourage those people living on Yeomans Lane / The Avenue / Longmoor Road to write / ring the council with your concerns. We are talking about the possibility of 155 houses being built on this site. If each house has two cars we are looking at 310 extra cars moving through this area on a daily basis. If you are reading this and know of people living in the aforementioned roads who may not be aware of the brief please mention it to them so their voices can be heard as well. Contacts at EHDC are telephone number 01730 234219 (ask for the Planning Policy Team) or email ldf@easthants.gov.uk Lets all rally round and have our say. The more responses to EHDC the better as this is really going to impact on the village in a major way. Many thanks

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Alan (22nd Sep 2009 - 13:28:01) This is the direct link to the PDF file www.easthants.gov.uk/ehdc/... editor

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Chris (23rd Sep 2009 - 08:30:33) I received the following from EHDC in response to my concerns regarding the Lowsley Farm and Silent Garden schemes with respect to infrastructure. EHDCResponseLowsleyFarm.pdf

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Dawn Hoskins (23rd Sep 2009 - 16:35:15) Interesting!!! The inspector states that the need for more playing pitches, educational provision and studies of water and sewerage infrastructure is the responsibility of the developer!! By ‘educational provision’ I assume they mean new schools?

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Chris (1st Oct 2009 - 20:00:51) Interesting especially it is all the buzz at both surgeries that there are proposals for Bohunt Manor which seem to have been conveniently omitted from that response. New Doctor's surgeries to house the existing practices (both of them), three football pitches and of course 130 more houses. What in the name of God do we need three more football pitches for and for that matter 130 MORE HOUSES? Why wasn't the former OSU site earmarked for the new medical center instead of yet another care home! The 130 houses are a sweetner apparently so that the existing and extremely self-serving owners of the land at the manor can fulfill their ambitions to get rich quick by having much of it concreted over. Remember that Bohunt manor is now part of the South Downs National Park!

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - S. (2nd Oct 2009 - 00:27:59) I would very much like to point out to those shallow number who oppose such plans that the world does not revolve around yourselves. It is painfully obvious to me that there is a large failure to grasp the concept at the heart of this issue: The population of this country is growing. This means that the country as a whole must bear this burden, be it in an urban area such as London or rural like here in Liphook. It is impossible to reasonably rebuke such a statement on logical grounds, something I am sure that we can all agree on at the very least. So where I ask is this objection coming from? These houses will need to be built somewhere at some point, be it in this village or the next. Countryside will always be eaten up by such a motion, there is however no workable alternative. We have a finite amount of land here in the United Kingdom and it must be used wisely. Objecting so such proposals on the pretence of saving the countryside is folly, you would merely save this particular patch thus forcing the settlement to be moved elsewhere, pushing these plans onto other people. To creating the same destruction which you oppose. A selfish gesture. Please, I implore you to throw a new idea into the public domain, one which creates affordable housing for the citizens of this country. Until you can do that you have absolutely no right to stand against these proposals. Think about the bigger picture, the younger generation cannot choose the world in which they are born into. You can work towards giving them a home to live in, at least. Thank you for your time. [Editor - you have of course forgotten that 5,000 new affordable homes will be built just down the road in Bordon. See this thread]

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Chris (2nd Oct 2009 - 10:11:43) Well S, is that lamentable rambling supposed to make us see the light? That the owners of Bohunt Manor can see the bigger moral picture associated with housing for our young people and us less community focused locals with our short sighted selfishness can't? What utter rubbish!. This 130 house "settlement" as you call it is all part of the same grand money-making scheme proposed by the owners of the land who originally tried to get 200+ houses placed in the same area a couple of years ago. It's an investment opportunity that was cut down in size and ambition to a series of playing pitches (wise use of land...I don't think so!), new surgery facilities and 130 houses of which many will NOT BE low cost. Take a look around. There is a block of new low cost flats opposite Bohunt Manor that is still half empty after 1 year! The block next to it has three units for sale and Globrix shows at least 20 houses, flats and current housing schemes in Liphook all for sale priced at under £220000. There are at least 150 new low cost houses proposed for Lowsely Farm and the Silent Garden! EHDC have also just won the eco-town status for Bordon that they so ardently covetted and in most people's opinions (including EHDC's) this more than satisfies the locality's thirst for low cost housing with 40% of the proposed 5500 making it 2200 more. So don't give us all that desperate need claptrap because it's an old and tired argument! The only desperate need to be satisfied here is the one involving the swelling of one or two bank accounts!

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - barbara (2nd Oct 2009 - 11:47:33) New houses built in liphook does not mean that house prices will become affordable for first time buyers. Also, as the mortgage companies now have to be more responsible in their lending criteria, young first time buyers will still struggle to get a foot on the housing ladder. With unemployment rising fast, who is going to guarentee jobs for young people to afford the mortgage?,

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - S. (2nd Oct 2009 - 13:32:37) Chris, I am sorry you saw my post as such, It's a shame that any viewpoint expressed which goes against your own is instantly "lamentable". You presume I said that the owners understood their moral obligation, this is not the case and it quite frankly does not need to be. Is the very fact that they can make money off of the land by using it for housing testament to the notion that there is a demand for it? You can quote specific numbers and figures at me all you like, it's only strengthening my case. The houses don't need to be low cost, should they sell they have fulfilled the purpose which they have been built for. "The only desperate need to be satisfied here is the one involving the swelling of one or two bank accounts!" If your opposition to these proposals revolves around some people making a profit you should rethink your stance entirely. @ the Editor - Are you proposing that as there are 5000 new homes being built in Bordon we need not build new homes here?

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Chris (2nd Oct 2009 - 14:32:30) S, stick any number of new houses in a desirable area and they will sell, regardless of whether there is a shortage of houses or not and regardless of the target market. You will never guarantee that the housing provided is purchased exclusively by those that really need it; that I am afraid is a pipe dream. And if you think that this doesn't primarily involve the motive of self-enrichment then you're very naive; the social conscience of building companies and big landowners is virtually undetectable. You are so full of contradictions involving who should/will buy these places that your argument justifying the scheme appears severely flawed from the outset.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - S. (2nd Oct 2009 - 17:56:09) Chris, if you have too many houses they will not sell. That means that we either have just enough or too few, we still need more. "You will never guarantee that the housing provided is purchased exclusively by those that really need it". The way you put it suggests that we should not bother, we cannot guarantee that aid will reach the neediest parts of Africa, yet we try anyway. I don't deny that they do it for financial gain, as I said previously it doesn't matter, the end result is still the same. There are no contradictions, please only use words if you understand the meaning of them. A contradiction would imply conflict within my reasoning, there is none. I am just giving multiple reasons.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - barbara (2nd Oct 2009 - 18:27:54) I thought that we were supposed to use full names on here? If "S" has strong opinions he or she should have the courage to use a full name on here. I believe that developers are panicking that if we no longer have the Labour goverment next year, there could be restraints on the new housing in the south east so that is why we are seeing so many applications now.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - S. (Simon). (2nd Oct 2009 - 23:35:23) Barbara, I didn't realise that the issue of anonymity (or lack of) was of any great importance on these boards. I have always thought that it was the meaning behind the words, not who spoke them which adds the most to meaningful, honest debate. You may call me Simon.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Karen F (3rd Oct 2009 - 10:10:46) Help me out here someone. From reading this thread it would appear that there is planning for houses on Bohunt Manor grounds aswell as the football, cricket pitches etc. So why is it that when my husband visited the Millennium Hall and spoke to Anna James and the crew down there with their exhibition and clipboards, was he categorically told there was no housing proposed on that site????? We live opposite and seem to be in the dark about this proposal. Could someone help?

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - barbara (3rd Oct 2009 - 11:08:30) Thank you Simon, it was the editors requirement that there are no anonymous postings on here. Would you happen to be Simon Coyte? who has possible future housing development plans of his own for the Square? Is that why you are keen to encourage building in Liphook?

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Chris (3rd Oct 2009 - 18:51:26) Karen, 130 houses plus the new surgery premises which is seeking to combine both existing surgeries into one. There is also talk of alotments being provided there. It all seems a bit clandestine as there was a meeting held but it was not a public one and nothing is mentioned anywhere on the EHDC planning website. Heads of one of the practices have already advised their staff of the move and expect to be able to move in within 18 months. A roundabout is also planned for the part of Portsmouth road opposite station road for access. Contact EHDC direct: 01730 234213. Perhaps not everything is firm but they should be able to clarify. Barbara, do the Parish Council have any details?

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Karen F (4th Oct 2009 - 09:14:49) Sorry, but how could Anna James forget about the 130 houses when directly asked the question by my husband, who is in the housebuilding industry and definitely knows a thing or two about planning etc. I am feeling extremely miffed about this now. Is there a chance we have got this all wrong, I did not see any housing on the plans I viewed at Millennium Hall (although did have stroppy 4 year old with me who did not want to be there!) so my visit was a bit rushed shall we say.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - claire (4th Oct 2009 - 09:32:12) I wonder how many of us if presented with the opportunity to 'swell our bank balances' can say in all honesty they would turn it down.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Rhys G (4th Oct 2009 - 12:18:18) Barbara, when you say "I believe that developers are panicking that if we no longer have the Labour goverment next year, there could be restraints on the new housing in the south east so that is why we are seeing so many applications now," what information/evidence have you based this upon?

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - barbara (4th Oct 2009 - 19:23:20) I had only heard about plans for the sports facilities and allotments at Bohunt, the surgery plans were not mentioned to me, heard about them after the Millenium Hall presentation, I have not seen or heard anything about housing there and I asked the same questions as Karen F and was told no plans for housing, and there have been no applications yet. It is in the South Downs national Park which hopefully will mean something! As regards my opinions on developers getting in applications now, I think the Central Conservative Government have not historically promoted the interests of the housebuilding industry, as much as Labour seem to be. We have heard no more from S or Simon, so I presume I guessed correctly as to who it was.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Kevin Feeney (4th Oct 2009 - 21:15:31) Chris, can you state where you are getting your information from regrding the 130 houses at Bohunt Manor please. The letter from the acting chief exec at EHDC clearly states that with the Silent Garden and Loseley Farm reserve sites there is no need for more housing in Liphook until 2026. The 'pitches and allotment proposal', together with the combined surgery proposal that were on public display at the Millenium Hall recently was quite clear. The funding for the pitches and allotments is proposed to come from an application by the PC to EHDC for an allocation of developers contributions; these contributions are secured in planning consents (Section 106 Agreements) from developers or landowners to ensure that funds are available for all sorts of infrastructure improvements, be it open space, education, libraries, transport, affordable housing (occasionally), etc. As the local planning Authority (LPA), EHDC hold these funds and allocate accordingly. What I was told by Anna James and the Clerk to the PC was quite clear. The proposed pitches and allotments are to be funded by the LPA from developers contributions. There were no proposals for housing at Bohunt, a situation that the Acting Chief Exec at EHDC sees remaining until at least 2026. Further, the inclusion of the land at Bohunt Manor in the South Downs National Park would make development of this land significantly more difficult that it is now. Can you expand on the pedigree of the information that you place on your posting please.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Chris (5th Oct 2009 - 10:32:08) I have written to Daphne Gardner asking for clarification as I heard the comment regarding the 130 houses in passing during a discussion with local aquaintances on the subject. Perhaps it is more of a case of not believing that whatever is happening there won't include the additional housing because planning applications have been made before for this site. I had a discussion with someone at EHDC planning who was absolutely adamant that National Park status does not preclude an area from building. This is supported by the fact that within the space of a wet weekend of Bohunt Manor attaining national park status a large medical centre, associated car parking and an access road are going to be built there. Why the former OSU wasn't used for this purpose when EHDC was scratching around for something to do with it is beyond comprehension.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Julia Mansi (7th Oct 2009 - 09:28:26) There has been some confusion regarding development sites in Liphook, leading to a number if inaccurate posts being placed on this web site. An appeal was allowed for the Reserve Site at Silent Garden for 116 dwellings. The District Council is not releasing the remaining Reserve Site (Losley Farm) in Liphook for development but given the appeal result at Silent Garden, it is likely that an application will be submitted for the site in due course. In order to achieve appropriate development of the site, a draft Development Brief has been produced. The public consultation on that draft finishes on 30 October 2009. The site is allocated for 155 dwellings in the EHDLP: 2nd Review. The Parish Council carried out a public consultation exercise a couple of weeks ago in the Millennium Hall for use of part of Bohunt Manor as sports pitches and allotments. The PC was in one room and in a second room, a planning agent was holding a consultation for a new doctors surgery also on part of Bohunt Manor. The Doctor's surgery plans included a roundabout at the junction of Station Road to Bohunt site. There was no suggestion, indication or drawings showing any housing or any other development at Bohunt Manor at the exhibitions. Bohunt Manor land has been put forward by the owner to be included in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA), as part of the LDF process. This is completely separate from the above Consultations. The SHLAA shows land that could be made available for housing should the District Council need to find more land to meet their housing needs. However, given that Bohunt Manor is within the boundary of the proposed National Park, housing is very unlikely to be permitted. I hope this clears up some of the confusion.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Chris (7th Oct 2009 - 10:47:24) Great thanks for clearing that up so the only confusing thing left now is why a large medical centre is being allowed within a newly designated National Park after the area was designated as a National Park?

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Simon Coyte (7th Oct 2009 - 15:17:37) Well I havent looked at this thread for a few days I can assure Barbera that I am not "S" and i will always use my name. Yes We are looking at future redevelopment of our land (a brownfield site) not greenfield as at Lowsley Farm and when the time is right a a comprehensive scheme will be submitted for planning approval. Perhaps the parish council and EHDC could assist by producing a draft development brief as at Lowsley Farm. Simon Coyte

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Nick Hancock (8th Oct 2009 - 21:56:11) Karen, rest "assured" that there are "no current plans" for housing development at Bohunt Manor. I can say that with some confidence because at the Milliennium Hall display I spent quite some time pressing the owners' planning consultant very hard on the point. His answer was that, after Silent Garden and Lowsley Farm, there was no requirement for further housing in the village and so there was no point in preparing an application. However, when I suggested that we would all be happier if his clients could give us an assurance that they would not apply in future he seemed strangely reluctant ... My worry is the precedent that will be set by development within the national park. There is bound to be pressure to develop around the boundaries (in order to preserve the "core" of the park) and a precedent of this sort will be very unhelpful. Why can extra sports facilities not be made available at Bohunt School ("and Community Centre") and medical facilities on the OSU site which no-one else has so far been able to develop? "S", no-one disputes the need for housing. The question is not whether it is built but where. If we encircle the heart of the village with concrete it will become undistinguishable from every other semi-suburban housing centre in the region. Development needs to happen in the right location - one which respects the character of the village. Otherwise one of the very reasons why people want to live here will have been lost. Finally - anyone who trusts the owners of the Bohunt Manor site we need only look back to the last Millennium Hall meeting in the autumn of 2007, when we were enticed in to "consult" on the facilities that we wanted to see built in the village, only to learn that the price was a major new housing development. I'm sure that is still the ultimate goal. I wonder how the Parish Council feel now about that and whether they feel even better disposed towards it now that the owners have offered them other facilities too. It's tempting to ask whether the owners have even bothered to ask the Council to pay a market price for these facilities ...

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - barbara (11th Oct 2009 - 15:25:50) Thank you for coming on the site Simon, not S. As regards your plans, is it not the case that your plans are for the conservation area?, and include housing to replace the buildings next to and behind the green dragon? The people of liphook surely need some historic buildings, that is why they were placed into a conservation area. If I have got it wrong let me know. Are all the owners of the historic buildings in the square in favour of knocking down and replacing with modern houses? If I am wrong please forgive me.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Chris (11th Oct 2009 - 22:15:28) Ooh great, that's just what Liphook needs. However, hopefully EHDC will remember that conservation areas indicate parts of a town or village that have significance, historical or otherwise and therefore should not be pulled down, uprouted and replaced with modern buildings, hence the term conservation area.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Simon Coyte (11th Oct 2009 - 22:20:04) Barbara I dont know where you get your information from! but it is way out. Having been activly involved in parish planning over the last twenty years, I am not going to propose a development that would conflict with the existing conservation area. So if you would like to contact me I can give you some idea of what might be possible. Simon

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Sue W (12th Oct 2009 - 10:34:38) Simon, I can appreciate that as someone else said, who could stop others cashing in on a situation, but does Liphook really need to lose another retail/business site? There is going to be more housing in Liphook - already agreed and I think in the near future Bohunt will have housing too, so it is going to grow. From the Parish survey results, one main comment was for more independent shops and facilities - why take away ideal retail facilities, with parking!!. Have you ever thought of turning it into an arcade type centre - rather like the Folly Market in Petersfield - a number of small businesses find these multiple sites vital? Sue

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Sooze (12th Oct 2009 - 20:56:22) I live in Yeomans Lane and have lived here for 12 years (I have lived in Liphook for 29 years in total!), and when I first heard about the intended access for the proposed development - "the eastern end of the development will be accessed from Yeomans Lane" - I was so shocked that I was convinced that the information was either wrong or else I had got the directions of the compass confused! For those of you who are not actually familiar with our quiet residential cul-de-sac, Yeomans Lane is hard enough to get down by motor vehicle as it is (outside core Monday to Friday working hours) because of the problems with double-parking, etc., because of the lack of sufficient parking for those who ALREADY reside in the area - to the extent that many of us (including the elderly, mothers of young children, etc.,) are already very concerned about the difficulties of access that would be presented should any emergency vehicles such as fire-engines or ambulances, need to attend Yeomans Lane - so you can imagine how the collective blood pressure has gone through the roof to think that some bright spark thinks that it would be a good idea to push on through the end of the cul-de-sac to make it into an access road for a proposed 155 houses - which by today's standards almost certainly means in the region of 300+ extra cars, not to mention any friends, relatives, visitors, etc. WHAT ON EARTH CAN EHDC BE THINKING OF?! HAVE ANY OF THEM EVER ACTUALLY BEEN TO YEOMANS LANE?!! Do any of them even live in Liphook for that matter, or have to endur the already nightmarish rat-race to the three schools in the vicinity which almost brings the traffic to a standstill twice a day? I WOULD URGE ANY RIGHT THINKING PEOPLE - OR FOR THAT MATTER EVEN WRONG THINKING PEOPLE, BUT WHO CARE WHERE THEY AND THEIR KIDS HAVE TO LIVE AND GO TO SCHOOL - TO PUT ANY OF THEIR OBJECTIONS AND/OR CONCERNS IN WRITING TO EHDC BEFORE THE 30TH OCTOBER DEADLINE.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - barbara (13th Oct 2009 - 16:56:22) Thanks for replying Simon about your plans, and I know that you have experience on the Parish Council going back several years. It is now a pre requisite for any medium-large scale developments to be put in for public consultation before you submit plans to EHDC, and that way you will get a good indication of whether or not the public support your plans. I would also have to declare an interest when discussing yours plans at parish council level if you gave me detailed prior knowledge of your plans, and I do not think me knowing before hand what the plans are would have any point. I presume you are preparing detailed plans for the re development of buildings you own near the Green Dragon?

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Darren Ellis (13th Oct 2009 - 17:17:41) Re: Comment from "Sooze" When I was a kid we use to play in the fields that are now occupied by the houses on The Avenue, Yeomans Lane, Lark Rise etc. and watched as the houses were built and even mucked around in them (possibly your house "Sooze", sorry). Just wondered why you thought the end of Yeomans Lane just finished? No houses built across the end, just an opening to the field? Obviously so the development could carry on into the ajoining fields using Yoemans Lane as the feeder road, just as the original cul de sac "Avenue" was used to feed your development. I have empathy with situation regarding parking etc. in your street but think you may have been nieve or miss informed about possible additional development in your area of Liphook. I wish you luck in your opposition and hope, for your sake,you suceed but unfortunately think you may not.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Uncle Ernie (14th Oct 2009 - 12:02:29) Have been reading this with some sadness; once you've ignored the red herring that is "proposals for Bohunt Manor" and take an objective look at the Lowsley Farm agenda, then I'm afraid that all of us who are against the development on very real and practical grounds, are, ultimately to be disappointed. Possibly highest on our collective concerns list is access: there's Yeoman's Lane which will, without doubt, become a frightful bottleneck and present a constant nightmare to parents, whilst there are real worries that the Longmoor Road entrance will be on a blind corner. But, when one looks at what has already happened coupled with EHDC's part in the story, then, my friends, it looks to be a done deal. The owners of Lowsley Farm have a history - going back over more than 30 years - of successful part-by-part development of the land. They have a preferred developer who already owns several properties on Longmoor Road (any one of which could provide access) and an agent, Boyer Planning, who have on board a highway consultant. They have been ably assisted by planning policy at EHDC, which has made life easier for the developer by actually providing the blueprint for the development - the development brief to you and I. This document effectively exonerates EHDC of any responsibility and gives the developer chapter and verse on what needs to be done to get a successful planning application. A pincer movement if ever there was one! The brief will be published in January and a planning application will follow within a few months; permission will be granted within a year of that and, dependant upon market forces, work will begin thereafter. The man to confirm all this is Tom Bell, the Planning Policy Officer at EHDC - one of the more honest and amenable people in Penns Place. Objections and/or comments can be made to him via ldf@easthants.gov.uk Tom will ensure they are read, logged and considered. As an "Oldie" on the block, I am, as I said, saddened by these proposals. However, maybe it's not as set in concrete as I think it is and, maybe there is a chance that the thing can be kicked out. Is there young blood out there who can rise to the challenge? I certainly hope so.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Tom Bell (14th Oct 2009 - 12:47:50) I am the officer responsible for the Development Brief for Lowsley Farm, and I have recently been pointed in the direction of this website. It is good to see such interest in the site as there is often little or no response to public consultation on planning issues. The aim of the brief is to guide the shape the development of the site takes. If you would like to give your opinions on how the site should be developed a copy of the Brief is available on EHDC's website, with responses to be sent to LDF@easthants.gov.uk by the 30th of October. Due to the Planning Inspectors decision at Silent Garden (more detail in the Lowsley Farm brief) the ability to refuse the principle of the development of the reserve sites on grounds of housing supply has be taken from EHDC. Hence the decision to prepare Development Briefs for the reserve sites including Lowsley Farm. Therefore comments should look to guiding the shape the development takes rather than refusing the principle of it. As a follow up from comments made by Julia Mansi the Bohunt Manor site has been rejected in principle for housing through EHDC's Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (2009). We look forward to hearing from you.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Neil (14th Oct 2009 - 15:53:19) Brave man Tom, I for one am fed up of this village being over populated, if like me you would like a small bit of land to build on then this is not possible but if I want to build and clog up the village thats fine. But as I say good luck I guess we will just end up pushing people out of the village that want a village life and brining more people from the city to Liphook that think they are in the country.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Editor (14th Oct 2009 - 17:44:18) Above image from EHDC document

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Simon Coyte (14th Oct 2009 - 20:43:21) Sue and Barbara What makes you think that any future development in London Road might be houses at present the drawing board is blank, and will remain so for some while. Simon

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Sue (14th Oct 2009 - 23:00:57) Simon I only went on the information Barbara gave - if there are no plans for housing on your old site or no discussions with future intent - or of any 'conservation' area at the rear of the square or the rear of your old site then there are no problems....... Sue

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - barbara (15th Oct 2009 - 11:21:45) thanks for the clarification Simon, it is good you have come forward.I do not see anything wrong with leaving that part how it is now! Perhaps though if there are no plans for the immediate future you could advertise your premises as available for a short term business let or short term shop letting?

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Sooze (19th Oct 2009 - 17:21:16) I had a reply email from Ian Godfrey Planning Policy Team Leader at EHDC to say that my comments had been noted and that there will be a Community Forum (probably at The Millenium Hall) on Tuesday, 19th January 2010. I have asked him to send me details of any associated meetings, etc., as many of us might want to attend. When I get confirmation of time and venue, I will post this again on Talkback.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Sooze (14th Jan 2010 - 15:33:56) Just a reminder that the next meeting to discuss the proposed Lowsley Farm Draft Development is being held next Tuesday, 19th January at 6.30 pm at the Millennium Hall. If you have ANY concerns, questions, or points for discussion about the proposed development (150+ new houses, wilth approx 250-300 extra cars using a through-road from Yeomans Lane - and obviously impacting on Hurst Close, Chalcraft Close. Lark Rise and The Avenue) then PLEASE do what you can to attend the meeting or get a local representative along. Failing that, please write to: Ian Godfrey - Planning Policy Team Leader East Hampshire District Council Penns Place Petersfield GU31 4EX Direct Tel: 01730 234212 Direct Fax: 01730 234250 Thanks.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Simon Powell (22nd Nov 2010 - 16:58:32) A public consultation is being held regarding the proposed development of 155 new homes and an area of public open space, for Lowsley Farm (between Longmoor Road and the A3 in Liphook). We've set up a website, www.lowsleyfarm.co.uk , with more information. We've also sent a newsletter out to local homes and businesses and will be hosting an informal drop-in session on 2 December at Liphook C of E Junior School, any time from 5pm - 8pm. "A new roundabout will be built on Longmoor Road to provide a single access to the new properties and Lowsley Piece, the open space. There will be no other vehicle access from surrounding roads." - Good news for the residents of Yeomans Lane.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - E (25th Nov 2010 - 15:24:40) We've just had the pamphlet for the development come through the door. They are seriously going to put a roundabout just after the double bends!?!?!?!? Recipe for disaster ! With 150 odd houses at 1.5 cars per house thats over 300 vehicles using this during peak hours!

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Steve (25th Nov 2010 - 19:21:54) If the developers really believe that a roundabout in this location with sightlines as suggested on their plan will get the approval of the highways authorities, I would respectfully suggest that they employ some advisors who understand the rules. Failing that they are likely to waste a lot of time and money with their planning application.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Darren Ellis (25th Nov 2010 - 19:28:57) At last a developer who "appears" to want to promote and advise people of it's plans. Posting on here and sending out information in the post, pity more don't do it as it means no one can complain they knew nothing about it! Over to anyone who want's to comment about it. PS: Think you'll find the roundabout will replace one of the "double bends" mentioned above. Good idea, me thinks, as will help slow down traffic into and out of the village. Imagine they'll do the same on the Headley Road, by the A3 bridge, when they apply to develop that parcel of land.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Steve (25th Nov 2010 - 19:46:38) Well I am all in favour of slowing the traffic but any proposed road alterations will still need to comply with the appropriate standards for the radius of bends and sightlines. I have some experience (not a lot!) in this area and suspect that they will struggle. Time will tell!

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Bill Ratcliffe (25th Nov 2010 - 21:30:39) The recent leaflet we received from the developers of Lowsley Farm was informative and attratively presented. The development looks well planned and the open spaces will make a welcome addition to the available relaxation areas. We can all be critical of change, and it is difficult to please all of the people all of the time. Sometimes it seems a few people will object and be critical in a knee-jerk fashion of anything that brings about a change without looking at the benefits to the community.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - liz (26th Nov 2010 - 12:07:07) Bill I think its a bit rude to accuse people of reacting in a 'knee jerk' fashion just because you don't happen to agree with them. In my view and that of others, the village is expanding too rapidly without a proper plan in place that the community has had opportunity to contribute to. Is it not better to see what is proposed by the Parish Plan? The proposed development is not 'change' however attractively presented - it is 'yet another' housing estate.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Jo (1st Dec 2010 - 19:35:40) Please could I draw attention to the meeting tomorrow evening (Thursday 2nd December), 5-8pm at the Junior School about this proposal. My own concerns about it are that 155 new homes will bring many more cars into Longmoor Road, (& the access roundabout looks in a dangerous position), a large number of children into the schools (is there enough capacity?), a large number of patients to the surgeries etc etc. Liphook does not have the jobs or infrastructure or recreation facilities at the moment for these houses plus the Silent Garden and other developments like the 9 houses in place of one bungalow in Longmoor Road. Jo

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Richard Sutcliffe-Smith (2nd Dec 2010 - 07:58:43) Exhibition this afternoon - 2nd December - cancelled due to snow and school being closed. On behalf of the promoters of the Lowsley Farm development, I'm afraid we are going to have to postpone the exhibition today as the snow is bad and the school is closed. We will rearrange event as soon as possible.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - m j winarick (2nd Dec 2010 - 18:36:35) I turned up with a number of interested parties at the Liphook Junior School tonight (02 December between 5pm -8pm) to give our views, not least the proposal for a roundabout on a blind corner of the Longmoor Road. Never mind the over development of Liphook. School locked; meeting presumably cancelled but no notice. This does not bode well. This web site was advising that the event was cancelled since early this morning, see previous post and the 'events' list also had it clearly marked in red as CANCELLED

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Richard Sutcliffe-Smith (3rd Dec 2010 - 11:38:45) In response to MJ Winarick's comment, we are very sorry that yesterday's drop-in session was cancelled. This was not within our control. At 7am we received a call from the Junior School that the school was closed and that we would not be able to hold the event. We immediately undertook the following to inform as many people as possible: # Kestrel FM were advised and the cancellation was announced during the day # BBC Radio Solent was informed # Liphook Herald was informed # A message was added to www.liphook.co.uk Talkback at 07:58am # The Lowsley Farm telephone information line was changed to advise of the cancellation # The Lowsley Farm website was changed to advise of the cancellation # We asked the school to place a notice on the door # East Hants District Councillors and the local ward councillors were informed # Liphook Parish Council was informed We had less than 12 hours' notice of the closure of the school, so were unable to arrange a mailing to the 1,200 local residents who received our newsletter and notice of the public consultation event. We are committed to engage with the local community and regret that we weren't able to discuss the plans yesterday. We will be rearranging the event as soon as we know the availability of the school (which is closed again today). And we will mail everyone with the details of the rearranged event. Please pass on our sincere apologies to all your colleagues who turned up at the school, but it was the weather that dictated the cancellation, and we are looking forward to seeing everyone at the rearranged meeting.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Simon Powell (8th Dec 2010 - 21:19:06) We are very sorry that the public consultation drop-in session on our proposals for Lowsley Farm that had been organised for Thursday 2 December was cancelled. Unfortunately, the Junior School was closed at short notice due to the snow and we were unable to hold the event. We are committed to engage with the local community and regret that we weren't able to discuss the plans on 2nd December 2010. We have rearranged the meeting for: Thursday 6 January 2011, 5pm - 8pm If the adverse weather continues, please check on our website, http://www.lowsleyfarm.co.uk or by calling our information line on 0800 081 0046 for news. We are looking forward to seeing everyone at the rearranged meeting.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - steve (8th Dec 2010 - 23:18:13) What does this mean for the original deadline for responses to the consultation? 16th December I think?

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Martin (10th Dec 2010 - 12:42:36) I can see that the consultation meeting has now been rescheduled for the 6th January 2011. What concerns me about all this is that does Liphook really need another housing development along the same magnitude as Silent Garden ie 155 houses? Nowhere in the pre-development consultation document does it mention any increase / investment in infrastructure. Sure we we are getting a new merged doctors surgery and some sports pitches which are all good but the sad fact is that Sainsbury's and much more importantly the schools are just not going to be able to cope. As the developer helpfully says in their little brochure " The site is very close to local schools and Liphook Village Centre is just 10-15 minutes walking distance away". Wonderful, but the schools are full and how many of you are already fighting your way round Sainsbury's? The roundabout on the Longmoor Road will also be a much bigger impact on the environment than you may think with it's street lighting and associated signage. EHDC themselves state that Liphook needs time to recover after recent development so we should be really questioning the need for this development at this time.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Cath (10th Dec 2010 - 20:48:49) I must say from what I have seen these developers are trying to go about this the right way. They seem open to debate and are trying to inform the village about their plans. I do however also have a concern about Liphook's schooling capacity. I have a little boy who will be three this coming year who was born in (what Royal Surrey told me) the middle of a baby boom. We live in Liphook but past Old Thorns. Is there going to be a place for him at the Infant school? I have friends in Haslemere who have had to go private because they moved late in the school year and there just wasn't a place at either primary school in Haslemere....they were offered Whitley as the next available place. People are desperate already to move to Liphook because of the reputation of the schools. I just can't see how there is room for the school to expand any further - they need some green space for the children to play on......I would love to hear what others think.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Simon Powell (14th Dec 2010 - 16:34:19) Steve, We will extend the consultation period. We will leave two weeks after the drop-in sessions for people to respond; assuming the weather allows the event on Thursday 6 January to go ahead, this means we will close the response period on Friday 21 January. Cath, Martin, The points you've raised are very valuable to us - I do hope we'll see you there, as you'll be able to speak with our team about your ideas.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Editor (6th Jan 2011 - 09:01:27) Bumped to the top of the list - as the meeting is tonight.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Debbie (12th Jan 2011 - 13:22:58) A bit strange but I have just received via the Royal Mail an invitation to their rearranged meeting on the 6th January! The letter inside is dated 7th December but sadly there's no post mark on the actual envelope so I'm unable to tell if this is down to the developers or Royal Mail! If it's the latter I would be very unhappy if I were the developer!

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Dee (12th Jan 2011 - 15:18:46) I also know of someone who received notification today of the meeting last Thursday!!!! Dee

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Dee (12th Jan 2011 - 18:05:32) l too received my letter today dated 7th December . Does anyone have fedback from the drop in session was it well attended.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Simon Powell (13th Jan 2011 - 16:13:15) Debbie, Dee, Thank you for letting us know about the delay in the post. Debbie, as you say, we are very unhappy about this! We used a mailing house to send 1,200 letters to local residents and businesses in this part of Liphook. They were sent on 8 December explaining about the re-scheduled drop-in exhibition on 6 January. It appears that a batch of letters from Royal Mail’s sorting office was not received by the local Royal Mail office for the postal deliveries until 12 January—over a month late! Other batches were delivered and as a result, over 80 local residents attended the event at Liphook Junior School on 6 January. We hugely regret that you didn't receive your letter until now and we're taking the matter up at the highest level with the Royal Mail. Information about our plans is on our website, www.lowsleyfarm.co.uk and we've also uploaded the information boards that were shown at the event. These can be downloaded at www.lowsleyfarm.co.uk/downloads/.... Should you have any questions about the proposals once you have reviewed the information boards, please do get in touch. There is a feedback form on the website and we’d appreciate your responses. Again, we apologise for this and any inconvenience this may have caused.

Re: Lowsley Farm Draft Development Brief - Simon Thomas (8th Jun 2013 - 12:58:13) Please could a member of the Lowsey Fram residents action group, or a parish councillor contact me on fight4fourmarks@yahoo.co.uk or via our web site www.fight4fourmarks.co.uk we are still fighting the EHDC Outline decision for 110 dwellings made May 2012 on the same day your application was held and we may have some useful information to share with you.

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