“Fair and right thing” done for Hayling Island over 300 homes plan after the decision to hold key planning inquiry on the Island
A six-day appeal will take place on Hayling Island
The “fair and right thing” has been done for Hayling Island after the decision was made to hold a key planning inquiry on the Island.
Council officials were originally suggesting that the six-day planning appeal hearing into plans to build 300 homes at Rooks Farm be held at Havant Rugby Club. This caused anger among local residents who said this would make it difficult for them to attend.
But now Havant Borough Council has confirmed that it will be held at Hayling Island Sailing Club in Sandy Point later this month.
“This is great news for Hayling Island residents who will now find it much easier to go to it,” said chair of Hayling Island Residents' Association Anne Skennerton.
“And it will also be great for the entourage of the people attending the inquiry to experience what we have to every day, with our one road in and one road out.”
As previously reported by The News, Hayling Island residents are preparing to take on developers who want to build the new homes at Rooks Farm - fearing it will lead to a devastating and irreversible change on the Island.
The Hayling Island Residents' Association, Save Rook Farm and Save Our Island have joined forces to oppose the planning application to develop the farmland after Havant Borough Council decided not to fight the plans. The final decision will now be made by an independent planning inspector following a six-day hearing.
The plans were first submitted to Havant Borough Council in 2021. It led to more than 2,000 local residents expressing concerns about the loss of green space, air and noise pollution, a struggling sewage system and an already congested traffic network.
The residents groups have appointed the legal firm Leigh Day to represent their interests thanks to a special legal status which has been granted allowing them to be at the planning inquiry to speak for local residents.
One of the main concerns centre around the lack of infrastructure on the island - with Hayling currently effectively off limits for large scale development as a result of the roadwork.
No large sites on the island are allocated for housing in the local plan - the development blueprint for the area - because of the lack of infrastructure. But if the developer wins permission then this could set a precedent for other developers to made bids to build houses.
“This is about the future of Hayling Island and the impact for all of us, the residents, the visitors, the local businesses, everyone,” Anne said.
“We all know it only takes one thing to happen and everything grinds to a halt as we only have one road in and one road out.”
Meanwhile, around £33,660 has been raised by residents to pay for the island’s legal defence - more than 70 per cent of their target of £48,000 - less than two months after fundraising began.
Anne said: “It is just so fantastic that we are 70 per cent towards our target in just a few weeks . It would great if we managed to reach our target before the appeal begins.”
The planning inquiry will begin at 10am on Tuesday, June 23 at Hayling Island Sailing Club which is open to the public.
To donate to the fundraising appeal visit www.haylingresidentsassociation.co.uk/rook-farm-appeal