by Ray George
When the residents of Swaythling were campaigning against a travellers’ transit site at Monk’s Brook, many were surprised to discover that the land was not protected by being in the Strategic Gap. They had failed to notice that strategic gap status was removed from the land at Stoneham when the Local Plan Review for 2001-2011 was adopted in January 2006.
The previous City administration went against the decision of the inspector who conducted the Local Plan public enquiry. She had said this land, within the City boundary, should remain part of the strategic gap between Southampton and Eastleigh. The present administration has a more positive policy to preserve this land as green space and has taken two important steps. They are not going ahead with the travellers’ transit site and have offered BTC Sports Club a 25 year lease on their playing field at Stoneham Lane. The City Council should go further and restore this land to strategic gap status. The City’s Core Strategy has as a Strategic Objective to “Maintain an adequate strategic gap between Southampton and adjacent urban areas and enhance the Gateways to the city”.
The Core Strategy is currently out for public consultation until 4th February before submission to the Secretary of State. A copy may be seen at the public libraries and the Local Housing Office, Parkville Road. See also some links on the HCERA website.
Restoring strategic gap status will not be easy. What is so attractive to us about a strategic gap is that it defines an area within which urban development cannot take place. But government, whether national or local does not like to be tied down. The City Council is also constrained by Planning Policy Statements from the Department for Communities and Local Government, and by the South East Plan.
If you would like to support this strategic gap endeavour send us an email.