Good News: New Village North of Fareham gets the go-ahead as Inspector approves 7000+ homes on Wickham site

Fareham Borough Council announced on Thursday 21st July that it has been given the green light to go ahead with its Core Strategy proposals for the Borough, including the development of 7000+ homes in a new community to the North of Fareham.

Michael Hetherington spent two weeks hearing evidence at a public inquiry in May and his main findings have now been made public, leaving Tory Councillors delighted but campaigners against the new town furious.

Councillor Seán Woodward said: "We are delighted that the Council's Core Strategy document has been found sound by the Planning Inspector. We are keen to continue talking to the residents of Fareham and those in the nearby communities of Knowle and Wickham about the plans for the new community, which will provide a variety of homes and employment for the next generation."

The Government believes that a significant number of new homes need to be built to meet future demand for housing and other facilities; the Council believe that developing a new distinct community in the Borough over the next 20 years is the most sustainable way to achieve this. Over the last 40 or so years the population in Fareham has almost doubled, and according to the ONS will increase a further 9.6% by 2026. The number of families on the Council House waiting list has risen by 27% in the last 3 years; The Council estimates that the Borough needs 421 new affordable homes every year.

A new village would bring a sustainable new community to the area, providing new homes, new jobs and new facilities such as shops and schools. New 'green' technologies would be used; motorway access would be improved...

Opinions are divided however. I recently overheard one Fareham resident comment, "If this new town goes ahead they'll have to upgrade the M27 Junction 10 to relieve the already serious congestion around here. The new Tesco Store at Quay Street roundabout will cause enough problems as it is. If these infrastructure needs are not provided, traffic in both Fareham and Gosport will be brought to a complete standstill for most of the day!"

But the infrastructure is part of the plan. The alternative to building a new community would be to allow smaller housing developments on the edge of existing towns and villages - i.e. 'gap-filling.' Existing towns and villages would lose their sense of local community. Developers of new small ad-hoc developments won't provide new schools, GP surgeries and roads - they will expect the existing facilities to extend their services and roads to cope, but past experience has shown that they won't be able to.

This is, of course, my opinion. You can read further on the topic on the Fareham Borough Council website. What do YOU think?