Meon Valley MP George Hollingbery’s Views on the 6,000 House Development N E Hedge End

You might have seen in last week’s round up of Hedge End news (‘Hedge End News in The News This Week (to 6 June)) the Hampshire Chronicle report on Saturday 5 June that George Hollingbery, MP for Meon Valley, is calling for a review of the Strategic Development Plan proposal to build 6,000 new homes north east of Hedge End.

Mr Hollingbery, whose constituency borders on to Eastleigh, has joined with Steve Brine, MP for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford, in asking for the re-examination of proposed housing schemes in the area following the government’s announcement that the Decentralisation and Localism Bill will devolve decision-making power on house-building targets from regional to local level.

This 6,000 development proposal for north east Hedge End has generated a great deal of interest and discussion on Hedgeendpeople and so I emailed Mr Hollingbery asking for his views on various points as his specific policy may be new to people in Hedge End.

The questions I posed to Mr Hollingbery were:

1.   What are your views on the Strategic Development Plan as proposed for north east Hedge End?

2.   Are you opposed to development here completely or against the scale?

3.   What do you think the new devolved powers will bring to the issue?

4.   Your views on housing development policy in the south east generally.

5.   What is the next step as regards to the Hedge End proposal?

Mr Hollingbery has replied saying that he took part in the debate in Botley during the election campaign and that his views haven’t changed since then, but kindly outlined them again for Hedgeendpeople:

“1.  I disagree with it.  It wasn't consulted on properly and seems to me to run in the face of all the principles that should guide good development.  It is unsustainable, will great large numbers of traffic movements in all directions, use up a valuable natural site and is miles from large sources of employment amongst many other reasons.

“2.  I can imagine a much smaller development being acceptable but local people would need to be properly consulted at every stage.

“3.  I very much hope they will give both local authorities the chance to re-examine their plans. For my part, I will be lobbying Winchester City Council to withdraw their allocation.

“4.  I believe we need more houses but that the type and location must be acceptable to local people.  I firmly believe that is possible to make an argument in many instances that development can be beneficial but it must be up to local councils to make the arguments on behalf of and to their constituents.  We managed this successfully in the Winchester district and I see no reason why it cannot be done similarly elsewhere.

“5.  To ensure that the rule changes and legislation to allow the above are brought forwards at an early stage and then to persuade the two local authorities to re-examine the allocation.”

I've also said to Mr Hollingbery that I very much hope he will keep the people of Hedge End up to date with any developments in his campaign via the website.

So, do you as a Hedge Ender have any questions for Mr Hollingbery? If so, post them here!

The development proposal was one of the issues on which we asked the candidates standing in the general election to put forward their views - for Hedge End MP Chris Huhne's see 'Liberal Democrat Candidate and Former MP Chris Huhne Sets Out His Views On Hedge End Issues’.

For other Hedgeendpeople stories on the topic see, ‘Strategic Development Plan - PUSHing up (6000) houses’, ‘Campaigners Against Strategic Development Plan Petition 10 Downing Street’, ‘Hedge End’s Proposed 6000 House Development – Botley’s Study Highlights ‘Major Flaws’.

And please add your views on the subject too!