Following hearing sessions over the winter, the Inspector examining Eastleigh Borough Council’s Local Plan has recommended to the Council that it deletes the Strategic Growth Option (SGO) in the Plan. The SGO, proposed to be located at land north of Bishopstoke and north and east of Fair Oak, sought the allocation of approximately 5300 homes and an associated link road in close proximity to the River Itchen SAC and the South Downs National Park. 
 
Amongst other failings identified in her letter, the Inspector found major shortcomings in the consideration of reasonable alternatives in the Sustainability Appraisal to justify the selection of the SGO. In particular, the assessment of alternatives and possible mitigation measures was not undertaken on an equal footing and a specific reasonable alternative was discounted due to unjustified reliance on the issue of settlement coalescence without any robust assessment of this matter. The Inspector concluded that the SGO was not the most appropriate strategy when considered against reasonable alternatives and was not justified. 
 
In coming to these conclusions, the Inspector agreed with the submissions made on behalf of Action Against Destructive Development, a local community group supported by CPRE Hampshire, a number of parish councils and a group of wildlife organisations. 

The Inspector’s post hearing advice letter can be found here:  
Caroline Daly acted for Action Against Destructive Development both in advance of and at the examination hearings. Hereward Phillpot KC provided strategic and legal advice.