ELLINGHAM, HARBRIDGE & IBSLEY PARISH COUNCIL
Affordable Housing - General Summary (as at November 2015)
The April Meeting was an Open Public Meeting attended by about 60 residents. The purpose of the meeting
was to explain to residents the stage at which the project was at and to invite their views. By April, 11
possible sites had been identified but only 4 potential sites were under discussion as others had been
discounted due to the landowner being unwilling to sell or the planning authorities advising the sites were
unsuitable. It should be noted that the Site 11 at Snails Lane, Blashford had only recently come forward and
therefore residents from that area were unaware of its potential impact.
There were only 2 Feedback Forms from the April meeting but most 'comments' were made verbally at the
meeting and all are recorded on the attached spreadsheet
The September Meeting was a Public Exhibition and generally well attended. This showed the sites in more
detail although many said the plans were difficult to view and there were time constraints in being able to
fully assess the project overall.
Over 60 Feedback Forms were taken although
only 26 forms have been completed and returned,
of which 12 responses were against the scheme or
viewed most sites as unsuitable. The detailed
comments are recorded on the attached
spreadsheet.
Of these 26 Feedback Forms, 22 are residents in
Mockbeggar/South Gorley, 2 in Blashford and the
remaining 2 did not state their community.
Where residents reside
Mockbeggar/S.Gorley
Blashford
Not stated
Any housing scheme is only successful with local support. The challenge is to find a site acceptable to the
planning authorities, the majority of residents and the Parish Council.
General Comments:
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Why should young people have a right to live where they grew up?
In general, an affordable housing scheme would help to maintain the vibrancy of the community.
Affordable does not have to mean 'hidden away'.
Any modest and well-designed scheme should not offend or adversely affect any nearby properties.
There is no local housing need - applicants should go to Ringwood or Fordingbridge.
How would such a scheme help poorer families?
With a parish population of nearly 1000 residents, does it mean that the 'silent majority' are in favour
of the proposed scheme?
Lack of real project guidance means the PC is defending the scheme rather than being urged by
residents to progress and build the project.
Any site progressed should be subject to a clear and legal restriction for a maximum of 6 houses so
as to ensure there is no expansion of a site in the future.
Any affordable housing development must be 'rock solid' from any potential Right to Buy scheme.
It is difficult in our Parish to pursue the culture of 'continuous communities' when our settlements are
so sporadic and spread out. Where there is a strong community, there is a better understanding of the
need to grow and evolve in order to survive.
Most interest has been generated on the basis of 'not where I live' rather than the parish needs?
Concern as to who would qualify for the houses e.g. travellers, whether within the parish or, more so,
to an adjoining parish.
The best location for any affordable housing scheme would be on the edge of the parish and near
existing development i.e. neither isolated nor located in the centre thereby affecting numerous
residents - as per HARAH guidelines.
There have been some useful comments and concerns expressed by members of the Parish Council prior to a
discussion at Council meeting. A number of these are mentioned above.
Overly, 3 members are in favour of Site 4, Ibsley Village Hall; 3 members in favour of Site 8, Mockbeggar
Lane; 2 members in favour of Site 11, Snails Lane and 1 member in favour of Site 1, Ellingham Drove.
Only 2 members expressed a view against a site being Site 4, Ibsley Village Hall.