Is the council working with other organisations?

In preparing the Local Plan, the Council has had regular and detailed discussions with a range of Councils and Government bodies,  including Winchester City Council, Hampshire County Council, Highways England, Network Rail, Southampton City Council, Natural England, the Environment Agency and South Downs National Park Authority.  The Council has also met with other environmental and community groups.

The Council has received a positive Statement of Common Ground on Biodiversity from the Environment Agency and Natural England together with two Statements of Common Ground from Network Rail on Allbrook Rail Bridge and general issues.

These Statements follow on from a previous statement on Ancient Woodland agreed by Natural England, the Forestry Commission, Forestry England, Highwood Group Ltd, and Galliford Try Partnership/Drew Smith Ltd.  

Statements of Common Ground have also been agreed between The Council and Winchester City Council in terms of ‘duty to cooperate’ and a general policy approach to phasing and safeguarding the route of the link road.

Other Statements of Common Ground that have been received include with Hampshire County Council on Education; South Downs National Park Authority and Partnership for South Hampshire.

The Council sets out in more detail all the discussions it has had in its ‘Duty to Co-operate’ statement and Consultation Statement.

These discussions have enabled the Council to benefit from a range of expertise and opinions.  As a result of these discussions the Council has commissioned extra evidence and /or strengthened the Local Plan’s policies on transport, environmental and delivery issues.