An Update from our Planning Committee

The committee has been following developments on two local projects. Progress continues on plans for the Southern Romsey Town Centre, though some members feel that important details about what is actually being proposed have yet to be pinned down. Separately, there are discussions underway about whether the Rapids site might become a health hub or a car park, and responsibility for taking Romsey Future forward will pass to the Town Council following recent changes to local government.

Four planning applications were reviewed at this meeting. The committee strongly objected to a proposal to knock down existing buildings at Pucknall Farm in Braishfield and replace them with six bungalows, feeling they were too large, poorly designed, and out of keeping with the rural surroundings. Three other applications — for new homes in Broughton, Shootash, and a minor alteration to a Church Street property — were considered but raised no concerns.

On other local matters, a letter will be sent to the council querying the fencing and railings that have appeared at the new housing development at Edwina Mountbatten House. A petition is also being drawn up about the state of the railway bridge on Winchester Road, with 20 signatures already collected. Two final notes: the QE2 statue project has been put back to April 2027, and a suggestion that the council should consider buying the World of Water site has been passed to the Society's executive for further discussion.

Text by Claude