Local and District Planning Issues

This page was updated on 16 June 2026 and the information was correct at that time.

Introduction

Following changes to Government set house building targets, Hart District Council (HDC) is starting the process of developing a new Local Plan. The Local Plan sets out a vision and framework for the future development of the area, with policies used to decide planning applications. Details of the timetable for this review can be found in the slides presented to the Annual Parish Assembly on 18 May attached below.

HDC launched a ‘call for sites’ asking landowners and the public to suggest land for development. This was due to close in early 2026 but as not enough sites were put forward suggestions are still being accepted. The Parish Council is waiting to hear what sites have been put forward. As soon as the Parish Council has this information it will be added to this site.

HDC has a webpage dedicated to the New Hart Local Plan.

Hart is now vulnerable to speculative development as it no longer has a demonstrable 5 year land supply for new housing following the imposition by the Government of the new housing targets. Developers can submit applications for sites not intended for development such as greenfield or countryside, and developers may successfully appeal refusals if the council cannot demonstrate an up-to-date five year housing land supply.

This doesn’t mean any development can happen anywhere. Winchfield can use its Neighbourhood Plan to try to make sure that any development is the right development in the right place for the right reason.

Progress

The information below is set out in reverse chronological order.

June 2026

On 18 June 2026 Winchfield Parish Council submitted its response to the Hart Local Plan 2044 – Scoping Consultation. This consultation sought input from stakeholders on matters relevant to the preparation of the local plan, including what the plan should contain and how Hart District Council should engage with stakeholders in the preparation of the local plan.

May 2026

At the Annual Parish Assembly on 18 May 2026 there was a presentation that covered all the planning issues facing HDC and the potential impact on Winchfield. Also covered was the action being taken by the Parish Council and the proposed development at Murrell Green. The slides for the meeting can be found below, with the relevant slides being found on pages 30 to 45.

March 2026

On 12 March 2026 the local MP, Alex Brewer, wrote to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government asking for a “Clarification on Local Plan Regulations and the Lack of Protection During Interim Periods”. The full letter is attached below.

In March 2026 residents made the Parish Council aware that a consultation had begun on a proposal for a new village at Murrell Green. Full details of the proposal and the consultation process are available on website set up by Lightwood. Public consultation events were held in March and in May 2026. A summary of the proposals can be found in the slides presented to the Annual Parish Assembly on 18 May attached below.

This development proposal along with the wider planning context was originally discussed by the Parish Council at a meeting on Monday 16 March and the slides from that presentation can also be found below. The Minutes of the meeting are available on this website. 

The Parish Council will keep this page as up-to-date as possible on planning issues facing the village and if there is anything you would like to see here please contact the clerk: clerk@winchfieldparishcouncil.gov.uk