Barton Farm

CALA Homes is the developer for Barton Farm, and they have a dedicated website for the project, proposals and consultation information.

June 2013

Wednesday 12 June, 12pm - 7.30pm at Guildhall Winchester.

A public exhibition about the Barton Farm development was held on Wednesday 12 June at Guildhall Winchester from 12pm to 7.30pm. This presented an opportunity to talk to staff of Cala Homes and their architects, John Thompson and Partners, about how the development is progressing and the design code for the development.

March 2013

Detailed technical work has now commenced on preparing a design code for the Barton Farm development and on the first detailed planning applications (these are called ‘reserved matters’ applications because the outline planning consent did not consider detailed design issues and ‘reserved’ them for later in the process). The decisions on the design code and reserved matters will be taken by the City Council.

The Barton Farm Forum will receive a detailed update on this work and on the likely timetable at its meeting on the 27th March 2013. You can read a copy of the update report online.

The March meeting of the Forum will also receive a presentation on the approved changes to the Andover Road and the way in which the main Barton Farm streets will make their connections. This will explain the traffic management and urban design principles which underlie these.

To assist with some of the more frequent enquiries we have added to the document list at the bottom of the page a non-technical summary of the conditions attached to the outline planning consent by the Secretary of State. A non-technical summary of the Section 106 obligations will also be added shortly.

January 2013

Barton Farm Forum

Winchester City Council set up the Barton Farm Forum to bring together everyone with an interest in ensuring that the development is the best it can be for the Winchester district.

The forum is not a decision-making body but gives people the chance to raise issues, express views and follow development of the project, which will last 10 to 12 years.

The first meeting was held at the Guildhall in Winchester on 16 January and meetings will be held around every six weeks. 

October 2012

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government approved an appeal by CALA Homes to build 2,000 houses on the Barton Farm site to the north of Winchester.

September 2011

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government dismissed an appeal by CALA Homes to build 2,000 houses on the Barton Farm site to the north of Winchester.

The Secretary of State supported his Planning Inspector's conclusion that there were no overriding issues with the site itself which justified refusal. Instead, he has said that any decision by him would undermine Winchester's own ability to plan for their future. He has therefore concluded that the matter must be decided locally. This supports the Council's original refusal on the grounds that it was premature. Read the press release in full below.

March 2011

The public inquiry completed its sitting on 28 February, and it is expected be closed in writing by the Inspector by 21 March 2011. The Inspector will then prepare her report to the Secretary of State, who will subsequently issue his decision on the appeal.

Copies of the closing speeches on behalf of the three parties are can be viewed by clicking the links below:

Winchester City Council closing submission (see below)

CALA homes closing submission
Save Barton Farm Group closing submission (see below)

All documents relating to the Barton Farm planning application can be found on our planning portal - 09/02412/OUT

February 2011

Opening Statement:

Winchester City Council  (see below)

January 2011

The appeal by CALA Homes against the Council's reasons for refusing the planning application at Barton Farm will begin in the Guildhall, Winchester on 8 February. The appeal is scheduled to last until the 17 February, but the timing will depend on the progress of the evidence and the issues presented.

The Inspector will report her findings a few weeks later but the final decision is to be taken by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

There is a further Judicial Review hearing on 17 January when CALA Homes seek to obtain a judgement which would reduce the significance (in planning terms) of the Secretary of State's intention to resolve the Regional Spatial Strategies. This could have some bearing on the Barton Farm application.

November 2010

Following the judgement that Communities Secretary Eric Pickles' s acted unlawfully when he announced that he had revoked the Regional Spatial Strategies, including the South East Plan, Cllr Kelsie Learney Leader of Winchester City Council commented, "CALA Homes took the Government to court to challenge the way in which the Secretary of State had gone about his decision making. The City Council's position on CALA's application for 2000 homes on Barton Farm remains as it was. Our reasons for refusal took account of the intention of Secretary of State to revoke regional plans at some point in the future. The appeal will take place in February and the Council will defend its position that planning permission should not be granted for the development."

Read the Cala Homes High Court judgement here.

Barton Farm - (August 2010)

At the meeting of Planning and Development Control Committee on 14 June 2010 the City Council agreed to offer a number of reasons why it would have refused the application for 2,000 dwellings at Barton Farm submitted by CALA Homes Ltd.

These reasons will form the basis of the arguments at the appeal which has been made by CALA Homes.

One of the reasons given for refusal is that the City Council opposed the inclusion of an allocation for Barton Farm in the regional spatial strategy. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced at the end of May that he would be abolishing the housing targets set in regional spatial strategies. The committee took the view that it could give substantial weight to the Secretary of State's intentions and that approving the application would not be appropriate given that its LDF and housing numbers would need to be reconsidered locally before being agreed.

The Secretary of State proceeded to revoke the regional spatial strategies in July. However, CALA Homes has also challenged whether that decision is lawful.

There is no date set for the appeal into Barton Farm at the moment. The City Council has argued that a date should not be set before clarification of the legal position on the regional spatial strategies. CALA Homes would like an earlier date. The decision on timing will be made by the Planning Inspectorate who will arrange the public inquiry and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State.

As soon as dates are agreed we will announce the details.

The Council received an outline application for the development of 2000 homes at Barton Farm in November 2009 (planning reference 09/02412/OUT). This application could not be determined within the period set by the Government and so the applicant, CALA Homes, has appealed against the non-determination as they are entitled to do. This appeal inquiry will be held in September 2010. The final decision on whether to allow the development to go ahead will be made by the Secretary of State after receiving a recommendation from the Planning Inspector who conducts the inquiry. The Council must state its own position before the inquiry and this will be decided at a meeting of the Planning Development Control Committee on 14 June 2010.

CALA Homes has submitted a second identical application and this is expected to be dealt with at the same meeting.

Barton Farm Planning Application References
09/02412/OUT (original) and 10/01063/OUT (duplicate).