Angry residents create petition against "Jane Austen Country" becoming concrete jungle amid housing pressures

A Change.org petition has secured over 20,000 signatures as future East Hampshire District Council plans could see the rolling countryside transformed into major housing developments with land for housing earmarked in the district’s development blueprint.

The petition has said the plans ‘will not only mar the natural beauty and character of Jane Austen Country, but will also place an unsustainable strain on the local infrastructure’ - sparking resident outrage.

The petition says: “For centuries, the serene and picturesque landscapes of Jane Austen Country between Farnham and Alresford in Hampshire have stood as a testament to the timeless beauty that inspired the author of Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.

“This precious area, steeped in literary history, faces an imminent threat as plans to construct 20,000 new houses loom over our beloved landscape, creating a 14-mile urban ribbon through the heart of one of England’s most beautiful and iconic landscapes.

“We understand the need for housing. But we must urge the local council and developers to find a balanced approach that preserves the heritage and natural beauty of Jane Austen Country.”

East Hampshire District Council has published a land availability assessment, including a list of ‘potential development sites’, which will be considered for allocation in the Local Plan. The suitability of these areas, which are located across the district, will be assessed, and those incompatible will not be published in the Local Plan.

A spokesperson for the East Hampshire District Council said: “The petition refers to plans for development in the A31 corridor which do not exist as planning applications or site allocations.

“There are no major planning applications for those sites and the Local Plan, which will allocate sites for housing in parts of East Hampshire outside the South Downs National Park, is still being compiled.”

In December 2024, the government introduced a mandatory housing number to 1,124 homes a year - a 98 per cent increase on the previous number.

As a result, the council has confirmed the local plan will see a significant rise in housing with 15,000 homes expected to built across the entire district, rather than 20,000 outlined in the petition.

The council has said the ‘real issue’ is that the East Hampshire district is home to 57 per cent of the South Downs National Park, which is ‘under no obligation to allocate housing sites.’ The restrictions means housing sites need to be in areas of the district outside the SDNP, with less than half of the entire district available.

“The Government's housing target for East Hampshire is high,” the council spokesperson added. “This places East Hampshire in a challenging situation - a large housing need and only 43 per cent of the district available to consider for development, including areas such as the A31 corridor.

“However, at this stage no decisions have been made on site allocations. The Local Plan is not complete and will not be adopted until the summer of 2027.”

The petition has also outlined a number of concerns ahead of future housing developments including ‘roads, public transport, schools, doctors and sewage plants.’

It said: “The development plan threatens to exacerbate these issues, potentially rendering our cherished home unrecognisable. The environmental and ecological impact will be devastating.”

The next stage of formal East Hampshire District Council consultation on the Local Plan is scheduled for Summer 2026 and it is not due to be adopted until 2027. The council’s area stretches down as far as Horndean and Clanfield.

For more information about the petition, click here. For more information about East Hampshire District Council, click here.