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Hollycombe development - Mayt (20th Aug 2024  08:22:29) What’s going on at the Hollycombe Estate? Looks like a massive development and roadworks and car parks being installed everywhere.

Re: Hollycombe development - Editor (20th Aug 2024  08:32:45) From SDNP planning. Refurbishment, extension and alteration to Hollycombe House including partial demolition of existing western conservatory and reinstatement of historic west wing; reinstatement of historic north wing; reinstatement of cupola; repair and refurbishment of the main house, including internal reconfiguration, restoration/replacement of external material treatments; excavation of southern terraces and construction of a subterranean bathhouse and link with sensitive landform restoration; excavation and construction of two ponds and surface water drainage works in South Park; excavation and construction of a ground source heat pump array at West Park; and implementation of a comprehensive hard and soft landscaping scheme within the Registered Park and Garden.

Re: Hollycombe development - M (20th Aug 2024  09:15:19) The parking goes on and on and on... They are expecting a massive amount of visitors... what will they be doing there? It must be more than just Visitors looking round.

Re: Hollycombe development - liz (20th Aug 2024  13:37:22) I believe the parking is temporary, for contractors, with the valley to be reinstated.

Re: Hollycombe development - Juan (20th Aug 2024  18:49:45) Just a little extension then!!

Re: Hollycombe development - Paul2 (21st Aug 2024  10:54:03) The parking is massive! No way that's temporary, it literally is highway quality!! I saw online this started with the installation of a heat pump (how green!) and I personally reckon it will end up as multiple apartments.

Re: Hollycombe development - Carol West (6th Sep 2024  20:49:01) I’ve been passing this site regularly and the parking, which stretches on forever, is beyond what’s needed for contractors. It smacks to me of underlying reasoning in putting in that level of parking. Theres no way that’ll be returned to grass and lawn, as its premium quality parking spaces that’s looking pretty permanent to me. This parking denotes huge development, as in a huge hotel complex, apartments or some kind of venue requiring that level of parking. It would be nice if local people were honestly informed of what’s going on.

Re: Hollycombe development - Dave (7th Sep 2024  05:00:29) For goodness sake, look at the planning application on the local authority planning page, it’s all there. So much unnecessary fear and nonsense on this.

Re: Hollycombe development - M (7th Sep 2024  09:23:52) Totally agree Dave, I wish people would just do a bit of research and find out what is happening before spouting "fake news". The planning application for the main work is here: planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=S485S1TUJP200&activeTab=summary There are many others relating to other works. The applicant, Ropemaker Properties Ltd, appear to be an offshoot of BP Pension Trustees Ltd so if you're really interested they would be the people to ask your questions to. If you're really intrigued why not go down and speak to the site manager, I'm pretty sure they would answer your questions!

Re: Hollycombe development - Paul2 (8th Sep 2024  18:27:19) @ Dave and M - the point is that the works already carried out are inconsistent and a magnitude greater than the items listed on the planning application. Some of us can read, and have already checked the PP before commenting.

Re: Hollycombe development - Steve miller (8th Sep 2024  19:36:19) My. Thank you for the link. Anyone interested in understanding the history of Hollycombe House over the last couple of centuries, will find the information contained in this planning application quite fascinating. There is obviously some very serious money being invested in the current development. Does anyone know what use the property is intended for once work is completed?

Re: Hollycombe development - Pete (12th Sep 2024  08:04:13) Dave- Paul 2 is quite right looking through the plans there is no mention of the acres of tarmac parking that are now covering the north lawn, it is massive so whatever its going to be they are expecting lots of vehicles, should make driving in and around lophook even more of a joy.

Re: Hollycombe development - Joe (12th Sep 2024  10:20:29) There are postings on Facebook about this and a lady who works at the Hollycombe steam fair swears it is a private individual who owns the place and he will answer questions etc. Obviously planning transgressions must be reported.

Re: Hollycombe development - Steve miller (12th Sep 2024  14:20:56) It is obvious that despite the helpful link posted above, few people posting comments here have actually bothered to look at the planning application. In particular people concerned about the parking provision should read the construction management plan and study the logistics drawing which clearly shows a very sizeable temporary parking area for the duration of the works which are estimated to take around 2 years. This is obviously a very sizeable (and expensive) project which will require the attendance of a large workforce and numerous specialist sub contractors. I remain curious about the eventual planned use of the building once the work is completed.

Re: Hollycombe development - M (12th Sep 2024  15:20:04) There is plans for the temporary car park, temporary buildings, truck wash etc etc you just have to read through all the reams and reams of planning papers. It's all been approved. I think some people are overwhelmed with the scale and size of the refurbishment and can't be bothered to read all the paperwork so decide to shout untruths. If someone wants to spend that much money refurbishing Hollycombe House then they should be applauded. Any concerns individuals have should be directed to the site manager and the SDNP Planners, not pushing fake news on local social media. I can just imagine what the new owners must think if they happen to read it...... what a load of uneducated nimbies!

Re: Hollycombe development - Paul2 (30th Oct 2024  14:55:24) Having passed the Hollycombe development - and spoken to the contractors as the 'brightest crayon in the box' M suggested ... The scale of the development no longer appears in keeping with what was planned. The car park is permanent, not temporary - and isn't set out as residential. It's a commercial layout (minimal hard landscaping). There is also now a new 3 storey building being built - it looks like a residential block of approximately 20-30 bedrooms in size. So my question is this: will this turn out to be a retrospective appeal for a hotel, or to retain as a purpose-built religious facility with on-site accommodation for attendees?

Re: Hollycombe development - Ian (30th Oct 2024  17:27:37) Paul2. Fake news! If there is a breach of planning (which would hardly be un-noticed or un-reported) then they will simply be compelled to undo their breaches. There is a lot of ill informed ignorance on this development!

Re: Hollycombe development - Paul2 (30th Oct 2024  17:48:48) Ian, there is little value in retorting 'fake news' when anyone can see what is going on by simply looking over the hedge. So come on - enlighten me, what is your take on the development and it's purpose? It's easy to criticise. Now try being constructive and inform the debate.

Re: Hollycombe development - Ian (30th Oct 2024  18:32:05) Easy Paul2, do what I did a make a few phone calls to planning office and South Downs national park. Numbers are online!

Re: Hollycombe development - M (30th Oct 2024  21:35:34) Well Paul I'm glad you took my advice, I'll take your "crayon" comment as a compliment, but imagine it wasn't meant as one. Only thing is you've not enlightened us as to what the site manager told you! Come on, do tell as we're all intrigued as to whether illegal happenings are going on or not? If they didn't inform you then how about contacting SDNPA Planning and then oming back to us and pass on your findings?

Re: Hollycombe development - Paul2 (1st Nov 2024  10:18:32) "Easy Paul2, do what I did a make a few phone calls to planning office and South Downs national park. Numbers are online!" And do you intend to share what you were informed, or are you leaving it up to others?

Re: Hollycombe development - Steve Cooke (1st Nov 2024  19:06:00) But Paul2, don’t you already know what’s going on? Are you not a know all on this? FYI, the information is really easy for you to find out yourself; Then you can be fully informed first hand which will be a big comfort to you.

Re: Hollycombe development - Steve miller (1st Nov 2024  22:32:20) I suggest that Paul2 (and any other conspiracy theorists on this site) should read the recently updated Construction Management Plan for this development. This document is easily found on the link to the South Downs planning portal posted earlier in this thread as it is the first item under the documents tab. The plan clearly states that the temporary car park will be removed in March 2027 upon completion of the works. As I have pointed out previously this is a massive project requiring many temporary buildings as well as car parks for what will clearly be a very sizeable workforce. All of this is clearly set out for anyone prepared to look!

Re: Hollycombe development - M (2nd Nov 2024  13:54:30) As others have said this is a massive project with full planning permission. The updated management plan is here. planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/online-applications/files/4CB42913D07F2919BBF137BDE529979F/pdf/SDNP_23_04867_FUL-UPDATED_CONSTRUCTION_MANAGEMENT_PLAN-2072384.pdf Ignorance of details leads to falsehoods, read all the documentation and if anyone still has questions there's plenty of people to contact, either on site (phone numbers listed in the above document) or at SDNPA Planning. Who the actual new owner is I'm not aware. The implication is that Hollycombe House is to be a private home but only time will tell. Everything that is going on has full planning permission and appears to be being done to a very high standard.

Re: Hollycombe development - passfield resident (4th Nov 2024  15:26:36) Saw the parking area today. It looks far too big to be for the use of contractors working on the development, and it doesn't look like a temporary parking area. It makes me wonder if once the development is completed or partially completed there will be another (possibly retrospective) application for a use involving parking for large numbers of cars . Planning applications on this scale do sometimes apply for what the planning consultants think might be allowable, then go for more at a later date. In any case, the amount of parking seems too much for the narrow road the vehilcles will be using through Milland/ Hollycombe.I don't have an attitude on this-I just think what is being done isn't immediately obvious to local residents, even if they read all the planning documents.

Re: Hollycombe development - Steve Cooke (4th Nov 2024  18:22:09) @passfield resident! Are you a qualified civil engineer or perhaps have experience in project management on the scale of this development?

Re: Hollycombe development - Steve miller (4th Nov 2024  20:20:19) Well, not sure about Passfield Resident but, as it happens, I am a qualified Civil Engineer with experience of overseeing projects of a similar scale or rather larger. I obviously have no idea of this longer term objectives of whoever is behind this project and I guess that people will believe what they want to believe in the end. I can however point out that, had the intention been to make this car park a permanent installation, the construction detail would need to be much different than the 100mm of hardcore and 60mm of bituminous surfacing described in the Construction Management Plan. The car park as built is unsurprisingly intended to last only for the 2 to 3 years of the project. The size of the car park doesn't seem untoward to me for a project of this scale given that the site is not served by any public transport and the whole workforce will likely arrive by car. The CMP makes clear that access is intended to come off the A3 and pass through Liphook so any additional traffic in Milland should not be significant

Re: Hollycombe development - passfield resident (4th Nov 2024  20:22:49) Sorry-didn't realise this thread was only for those professionally qualified to take part

Re: Hollycombe development - Steve Cooke (5th Nov 2024  09:47:58) @passfield resident. If you put yourself out there by making silly statements and spouting nonsense don’t be surprised if your capacity for debate on this topic is questioned. This thread really highlights how ill informed and ignorant online debate can be.

Re: Hollycombe development - passfield resident (5th Nov 2024  10:40:51) Mr Cooke-your capacity for reasoned debate is limited as shown by how quickly your argument becomes insulting. How many parking spaces are there at this development? I assume you know. If even half of them were going to be in use at any given time by people working on the development that would entail a large increase in traffic passing through Liphook at peak times. I found your comments on the way the car parking has been constructed informative, and was inclined to think I may have been mistaken, but I don't do online insults. I can guarentee you wouldn't if we met in person-it's too easy (and cowardly) to insult people online.

Re: Hollycombe development - passfield resident (5th Nov 2024  11:03:08) I've mixed up Steve Miller and Steve Cooke. Thanks to Steve Miller for the information on the car park.

Re: Hollycombe development - Steve Cooke (5th Nov 2024  11:10:34) @passield resident. I didn’t make any comment about the construction of the car park…….thank you for confirming one of my observations though about the quality of some of the contributions to this debate!

Re: Hollycombe development - Paul2 (5th Nov 2024  11:50:09) It’s telling how quickly some here label concerns as ‘uninformed’ without doing the very research they demand of others. Among the 234 documents on this project, there’s specific cause for concern - something those eager to dismiss might uncover by digging deeper. If the self-proclaimed experts genuinely want the full picture, they’d benefit from reading the documents as closely as they expect others to. They might then understand why that key question about the property’s long-term intentions isn’t just valid - it’s necessary. And before anyone asks what this concern is: that’s exactly the point. If you’re truly invested in understanding what’s happening here, it’s all there - waiting to be uncovered by those willing to apply critical thinking rather than those willing to insult others.

Re: Hollycombe development - Steve Cooke (5th Nov 2024  13:00:24) Ha ha Paul2, trying to smokescreen your own mischievous scaremongering, unfortunately you’re too well known on this site to fool anyone!

Re: Hollycombe development - Paul2 (5th Nov 2024  16:07:58) Dismissing legitimate concerns doesn’t make them any less valid. If you can’t contribute without resorting to insults, it just sidesteps the real discussion and doesn't merit further response.

Re: Hollycombe development - M (5th Nov 2024  17:20:48) I think having concerns about what MIGHT happen and having concerns about what IS happening are two different things. At this moment in time what IS happening is all fully documented and has full planning permission. On the other hand what MIGHT happen to Hollycombe House when it's finished in a couple of years only the owner knows. We can all spout our own thoughts and unsubstantiated claims but until we hear it from the owner we will never know. For those with concerns about what MIGHT happen maybe try and get in touch with the new owner and see if you can get some answers? Maybe if the new owner has been directed to this site then maybe they can enlighten us all on their long term plans for Hollycombe House?

Re: Hollycombe development - Steve miller (8th Nov 2024  13:44:57) Well it seems that I need to eat humble pie and apologise to a number of people on this thread. I decided to get on my bike and go and look at the Hollycombe development,. I clearly should have done this before posting because the parking area is much larger than shown of the drawing forming part of the construction management plan and I am no longer convinced that it is going to be needed just for workforce parking. Indeed some of the bays appear to be large enough for coaches! I have emailed SDNPA planning to enquire whether they are satisfied that this work is fully in accordance with the planning consent and will provide an update if I receive any meaningful response.

Re: Hollycombe development - passfield resident (8th Nov 2024  14:07:01) Steve Miller-good for you. Appreciate your honesty and would be interested in anything you might find out

Re: Hollycombe development - Russ (8th Nov 2024  14:38:45) If this is allowed in the SDNP what’s going on they say NO building in the park refused point blank to discuss building on bohunt manor for the benefit of liphook this development doesn’t benefit liphook just makes a mockery of the system.

Re: Hollycombe development - er (9th Nov 2024  13:02:11) Drove past today for the first time in ages and glanced over the hedge as we drove past to see what all the fuss was about and was frankly a bit gobsmacked by the scale of car parking and bay markings, it will be interesting to see how this develops (no pun intended!) Could it be some sort of overflow car park for the Steam Fair? I guess it was sold on after the last chap Mr Hoare died (a guess), apparently he turned it into a really a beautiful, characterful home, so hopefully it will not be developed too much, a boutique hotel might be nice, somewhere to visit and maybe spend a night or two. Would also provide some useful employment in this growing town for all our jobless teens, dog and cat walking or sitting, caring for the elderly, hairdressing or estate agency about all there is here at the moment, with many more housing estates expected, perhaps we shouldn't get too worked up about a car park😁

Re: Hollycombe development - Paul2 (14th Nov 2024  13:01:34) Firstly, I'm pleased some of you have made the effort to go and look at the scale of the development, as it highlights why I have been asking questions for several weeks now. Secondly, due to earlier responses I wasn't inclined to be more helpful and encouraged people to find and read the planning permission to see what the problem might be. As more of us are now becoming concerned and see the potential for (as someone said) what 'might' be planned .... neighbours who were consulted about the initial plans specifically asked if there was a future intention to turn the property into something more commercial. They were informed the owners (a financial company) expected to have 'many friends visiting' (an actual quote in the planning permission) which is why they need such a huge car park. The people who objected and raised these concerns have not had satisfactory answers and the future intentions of the development are still not clear. Please do keep a close eye on this, as I am. I'm minded of the saying 'if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it's probably a duck' anytime I see the scale of the building works.

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