Broadband Coverage across the Winchester District

Many Blueprint responses raised the issue of Broadband across the District.   We know that some areas, especially in the rural parts of the District, get very poor broadband speeds.  We want to lobby internet providers to provide better broadband access, but we need your help to do so.  Please complete the online survey on the eHampshire website and let us have information about your broadband needs.

The Localism Bill and latest status of Regional Strategies

The Localism Bill was published in December 2010 and reaffirms the retention of Local Development Frameworks, and the intention to abolish Regional Strategies.

The status of the South East Plan has been subject to much debate and challenge following announcements in May 2010 of the Government’s intention to revoke Regional Strategies, and the statement in July 2010 formally revoking them with immediate effect. This latter decision was subsequently challenged by Cala Homes through the High Court and on 10 November the judgement was published, which concluded that the Secretary of State had acted unlawfully. Regional Strategies (RS) were thereby immediately re-established as part of the ‘development plan’ and are now expected to remain in place until legislation formally removes them.

On 10 November 2010, the Government’s Chief Planner sent a letter to local planning authorities, and the Secretary of State issued a statement asserting that “the ruling changes little”. This letter and statement were then challenged in a second judicial review action by Cala Homes, and judgment on this second challenge was given on 7 February 2011. The Judge dismissed the challenge.

The effect of these two decisions is that the proposed abolition of the Regional Strategy can be taken into account as a material consideration in planning decisions. It will therefore still for the time being, be necessary to have regard to the Regional Strategy in preparing and adopting the LDF. 

Draft Infrastructure Study

The Council consulted on its draft Infrastructure Study between 15 November 2010 and 7 January 2011.  Twenty-seven organisations and individuals responded and these comments will be reported to the LDF Cabinet Committee on 1 April.