Local and District Planning Issues

This page was updated on 21 April 2026 and the information was correct at that time.

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.

HDC has 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 but a list isn’t expected until after the May 2026 elections.

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.

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. A public consultation event is due to be held between 3.30pm and 6.30pm on Monday 11 May 2026 in Winchfield Village Hall. Residents are encouraged to attend and express their views.

This development proposal along with the wider planning context was discussed by the Parish Council at a meeting on Monday 16 March and the slides from the presentation at this meeting can be found below.

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