The owners of Highclere Castle have proposed to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council that much needed repairs to some of the historic buildings on the estate are funded through appropriate development on estate land. Normally such development would not be permitted but in this instance may be considered appropriate because of the benefit of repairing important historic buildings, this is called ‘enabling development’.
A public meeting was held at the Castle on Monday 13 October which marked the start of a period of public consultation which ended on 21 December 2008. In total there have been 122 responses received from the public and other consultees.
Officers at the council have now considered the responses, and have amended the draft policy in the light of the comments made. A special meeting was held at Penwood on 29 April 2009 so that local people could hear councillors discuss the way forward.
The committee considered a report on the outcome of the consultation, in which council officers recommended amendments to the council's proposed approach. There was also public speaking. English Heritage clarified that the proposed draft policy is due to be considered by their Advisory Committee on 17 June 2009. Officers have decided to await the outcome of that meeting before taking this matter further. It is anticipated that the next step would be to report back to the Overview Committee later in the year.
If finally approved by the council the policy would set a framework within which future planning applications would be considered, aimed at funding repairs to the historic buildings and landscape.
Enabling development is defined by English Heritage as 'development that is contrary to established planning policy - national or local - but which is occasionally permitted because it brings public benefits that have been demonstrated clearly to outweigh the harm that would be caused.'
Please note that there are no specific sites proposed for development at the moment. At this stage it is the principle of and the need for enabling development which is being considered.
English Heritage
English Heritage has written to the Council on the subject of the draft policy. You may download a copy of this letter below.