September 2020:
A letter to all residents of Liphook was sent by Harrow Estates in August 2020 requesting comments [via a pre-paid card] on their proposal called Future Growth for Liphook ‘Westlands Park’ to develop the land to the south of Longmoor Road and the Bohunt Manor Estate all located within the South Downs National Park.
See also https://planning.redrow.co.uk/harrow-estates/liphook/ where the same questions are shown to match those on the Harrow Estate’s pre-paid card.
This letter asked opinion on:-
Question no. 1 Do you agree Westlands Park, and the benefits it could bring, should be included as one of the options the community is consulted upon for the future of Liphook?
Question no. 2 Do you support the delivery of new road infrastructure on the western edge of Liphook to reduce traffic congestion on The Square?
Question no. 3 Do you think there is merit in exploring the opportunity to deliver some of the uses / facilities listed in our leaflet, on this site?
Question no. 4 Can you think of any other facilities that can be accommodated at Westlands Park?
Question No. 5 Do you have any other comments you wish to make?
Map of proposed development adding approximately 20% to the built up area of Liphook
We have responded to their questions as follows:-
Questions 1, 2 and 3 |
Answers to each question is ‘NO’ |
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Question 4 |
Land use to remain as it is: there is no need for “other facilities”. |
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Question 5 |
Harrow Estates should develop elsewhere, on land suitable for the purpose. This suggestion is contrary to many important planning policies and to good judgement. |
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Government Policy |
Governments have long enjoined developers to use BROWNFIELD land – not Greenfield. |
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Government Policy |
Government policy does not permit large developments within the National Parks. |
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Government Vision 2010 |
The National Parks are not reservoirs for unrestricted commercial housing; housing in National Parks will focus on affordable housing to support local employment and key services. |
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Statutory Purpose |
The proposal does not comply with either of the statutory purposes of the National Park. |
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SDNP |
The proposal does not comply with or complement the Seven Special Qualities of the South Downs National Park. |
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Scenic Beauty NPPF |
The National Planning Policy Framework [NPPF] makes clear that the National Park has the highest status in relation to landscape and scenic beauty. Liphook residents continue to warmly cherish the iconic views to and from the National Park. |
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The SDNP Local Plan |
In short, the proposal is not compliant with the Planning Authority’s policies. The Authority has made its housing allocations for the Plan period. The Authority decided to spread allocations as widely as feasible – not huge new estates. |
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“Relief Road” |
The Highway Authority reported comprehensively that Option 5 was too expensive and would make no proportionate contribution to traffic conditions; and would create fresh complications. Option 5 is not the recommended way forward. |
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LIPS Public Consultation 2014 |
An abused and widely discredited event. The Parish Council reported “This was not a democratic one person one vote properly supervised and conducted event.” |
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Surgery |
The NHS does not want a new surgery in Liphook. The NHS is investing in modern Health Hubs at Bordon and Petersfield, and in IT advancements. |
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Large Sites |
Only a few weeks ago the EHDC planning authority rejected Liphook as a suitable venue for a new ‘large site’. |
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White Paper
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Importantly, the current Government Planning White Paper confirms that the reformed planning system will continue to protect the National Parks, reflecting of course the findings of the Glover Review. |
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We hope the above is helpful for you. Please focus your development ideas on brownfield land. |
If you haven’t responded so far to the circular you may wish to replicate some or all of our response in your own comments on the Harrow Estates ‘Future Growth for Liphook’ circular by sending in the pre-paid card or via the web.
If you would like to be added to our supporters’ circulation list please send an email to sosbohuntmanor@gmail.com requesting to be added to our supporters’ circulation list.
We expect that in due course a planning application will be made by Harrow Estates which our SOS Bohunt Manor Community Action Group organisation will comment on in great detail.
August 2017:
- We are monitoring any matters that could affect the Estate.
- Representations have been made to the SDNP and EHDC on the Medical Centre site.
- The Neighbourhood Development Plan is now being prepared and we anticipate that our Group will be able to assist and provide expert evidence.
- Our aim remains the same: to restore the Bohunt Manor property to the condition, with the environmental potential, envisaged by its kind benefactors Sir Adrian and Lady Betty Holman and their friend Sir Peter Scott.
December 2014 : SOS BOHUNT MANOR COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP NEWSLETTER
Dear Supporter,
We thought it about time to update you on our recent activities:
1. The www.sosbohuntmanor.co.uk website has been updated with information including links to our Facebook and Twitter pages. Please do take a few moments to view the website and use Facebook and Twitter to express your views and forward to your contacts.
2. The planning application is still anticipated, albeit we understand that the actual date for submission will be dependent upon the outcome of the applications for the Chicken Farm and Lowsley Farm proposed developments. The initial application is now likely to be for 141 dwellings designed by the Princes Foundation, which is of course a paid consultancy. We have been in contact with this firm expressing our concern that the construction of houses on this part of the South Downs National Park does not complement HRH The Prince of Wales’ comments on the Foundation’s website that “The Prince’s desire to protect and sustain the natural environment is matched by his interest in the built environment and how it affects the quality of people’s lives.”
3. One of the comments made by The Prince’s Foundation was “Currently Liphook is remarkably cut off from the National Park and so even though it is right on the boundary many people seem to jump in their cars to drive into the park and to a visitor one can’t find a clear way to relate the two assets of the historical village centre and the park itself, which is peculiar.” We were surprised at this comment and have sent the Foundation a map, see below, showing that access is extremely straightforward with two access points from the village centre via The Shipwrights Way and the Public Footpath by the Church Centre.
4. It is our understanding that the Medical Centre’s structure will be constructed by GVI Ltd, but the internal fit out, services installation and medical equipment will need to be financed by the Liphook Surgeries. We also understand that if the Surgeries do not commence the completion of the building within one year then GVI Ltd will apply for a change of use. It is our view that financing of the Medical Centre is a major problem insofar as we have been told that the NHS will not authorise funding thus giving GVI Ltd a free rein for developing this portion of the site after the one year deadline has occurred. A request has been made by one of the surgeries to GVI Ltd to take the signs down on the fencing around the “Medical Centre” site in order to manage people’s expectations.
Click here to read the complete letter….
July 2014: SDNP Pre-Application advice opinion
The SDNP have responded to the pre-application for 200+ houses. Below are a couple of noteworthy points from the document.
“The SDNPA currently can demonstrate a 5 year housing land supply and it has not been demonstrated that there are no sites outside the designated area that meet the 175 dwelling requirement for Liphook.”
“Vehicular access to the site is proposed from the new roundabout to be constructed to serve the new medical centre. This is has severely constrained the design of the development and resulted in the poor layout referred to above. Whilst Notice has recently been served that work will shortly commence to implement this permission I would strongly suggest this is reviewed to ensure the layout of the proposal is genuinely landscape led. Although the medical centre and roundabout have been granted permission it would appear from your submission that the housing development would be needed to cross subsidise the construction and maintenance costs (so it will not be implemented until/unless the housing is approved). Therefore I would urge you to take the opportunity to re-consider this highways approach.”
To read the document in full Click Here
March 2014: Football pavilion granted planning permission
Liphook United Football Club has been granted planning permission for their proposed pavilion. Read More
March 2014: Outdoor Classroom planning permission refused
Planning permission has been refused for the proposed outdoor classroom. To view this case on the SDNP website click on the following: http://planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/online-applications/centralDistribution.do?caseType=Application&keyVal=MW756ATU1V000
February 2014: Reasons to object to a planning application for 200 houses
When the planning application has been submitted, we have put together some reasons why you may wish to object in the attached link: Read more
February 2014: Letter to David Cameron, Prime Minister
The SOS Bohunt Manor Community Action Group wrote to the Prime Minister to highlight the potential loss of the National Park in Liphook, and to remind him of his claim in a recent BBC Countryfile programme when he pledged the government’s support in the defence of green spaces close to rural communities. Read more…
February 2014: Letter from Damian Hinds MP
The SOS Bohunt Manor Community Action Group received a response to their letter to Damian Hinds MP regarding building on the National Park in Liphook. Read more
January 2014: South Downs National Park publishes Scoping document
A decision on the Scope application SDNP/13/06144/SCOPE has been made and makes interesting reading. The SDNP have set out stringent requirements for the detail required in the GVI Ltd planning application. See here for the document in full 2014-01-24 SDNP Scoping Opinion
January 2014: Letter published in The Liphook Herald 24th January 2014
The Bohunt Manor Community Action Group wrote the following letter published in this week’s issue 2014-01-19 Liphook Herald letter
January 2014: Liphook Herald front page article on the medical centre
The Herald reported that GPI intend to develop a new medical centre on Bohunt Manor. This already has planning permission but the NHS will still need to support this in order for it to go ahead. Liphook & Liss Surgery have expressed an interest in the new medical centre, but Shiphouse Surgery have not.
January 2014: Bohunt Manor artefacts go on show to the public —Exhibition Now Closed
The Liphook Heritage Centre is pleased to announce that there is now an exhibition of historical artefacts found over a number of years on the Bohunt Manor Estate Liphook when it was the residence of Sir Adrian and Lady Holman. The display of artefacts is very extensive and includes a Bronze Age axe head, a Celtic coin, many Roman coins, Roman pottery shards, several medieval coins from King Canute’s reign to Elizabeth I reign, coins from James I through to George III, 19th and 20th century coins, 17th century Jews harps, trade tokens and a collection of 19th century musket balls!!
Click here Heritage Centre exhibition for more information and opening times.
Click here for full paper clipping (PDF – Petersfield Post)
December 2013: BBC South come to Bohunt Manor
BBC South interviewed Roger Miller, chair of the Bohunt Manor Action Group, on 9th December where he reinforced that there was no need to build on the National Park. The BBC have requested that they be kept informed of the situation with particular reference to the World Wildlife Fund involvement.
December 2013: Liphook United Football Club
Action group met with Liphook United Football Club to provide reassurance that the group have no objection to the football club and associated pavilion being located on Bohunt Manor, although there were concerns raised about access to the proposed site. News is currently awaited regarding the Pavilion application which was due to be published on 13th January.
December 2013: Press Release
Many would have attended the public meeting that was held in the Millennium Hall on 9th July 2013 to question the developers of Bohunt Manor Frontage Land regarding their plans for this piece of the South Downs National Park. This was a packed meeting with an overwhelming number of local people against developing this piece of land for housing.
2013-12-05 Press Release SOS Bohunt Manor Community Action Group
July 2013: Hundreds of local people attend Public Meeting with the developers GVI
At a public meeting on 9th July 2013 the residents of Liphook made clear their views on the proposal for a large development on Bohunt Manor land. An overwhelming majority of residents opposed the development for the following reasons:
- Residents feel it is important to retain the status of this site as part of the South Downs National Park
- Residents are deeply concerned about lack of respect for wildlife, habitats and landscape by the developers
- This site is the only easily accessed area of the Park (within walking distance for many) for quiet enjoyment for both visitors and residents of Liphook without the necessity for vehicles
- Residents’ main concerns are focused on the effect on traffic through the village
- Many residents have lived in Liphook for many years, with generations of families attending the local primary schools. The general concensus is that the existing primary schools were outstanding and there was no need for another primary school
- Residents feel that community proposals are merely a ruse to allow the developers to promote speculative development for housing
April 1976 – Lake Garden Opens to the Public at Bohunt
Newspaper clipping 8th April 1976
Newspaper clipping 13th May 1976
On some occasions documents on the SDNP planning website may not be available.
Planning » Application Summary
Proposed single form entry primary school, re-plan of approved football field, associated vehicular and pedestrian access and strategic landscaping works – Bohunt Manor Portsmouth Road Liphook Hampshire GU30 7DL
Planning » Application Summary
Community farm building – Land south of Bohunt Manor Land South Of Bohunt Manor Portsmouth Road Liphook Hampshire