Image shows a recently completed rural scheme in Braishfield
Prestigious award for Broughton
New development wins award
A 32-home scheme for the land south of School Lane in Broughton has scooped an award for stakeholder engagement in planning at the prestigious Planning and Placemaking Awards.
The awards, organised by Planning magazine and PlacemakingResource, took place at London’s Savoy Place on 23 June. The Broughton development received praise from the judges for the extensive work carried out with local people to secure their support for the scheme and to enable them to help shape the plans.
Test Valley Borough Council was one of the partners involved in working with and supporting the local Parish Council to progress the scheme.
Portfolio Holder for Planning and Building, Councillor Phil Bundy, said: “I am delighted that the Broughton development won the award for stakeholder engagement in planning. It is always challenging gaining support for developments in rural areas, so it was incredibly important that we worked with, and listened to, the local community to ensure that the proposed development was right for the village. A huge amount of time and effort went into planning the scheme, so I would like to say a massive thank you to all those involved.”
Portfolio Holder for Housing and Environmental Health, Councillor Sandra Hawke, said: “This is fantastic news and very well deserved for all those involved in the scheme. There are few things more important to people than having a roof over their head. It is particularly important that those who wish to stay in the area they grew up in are able to do so, in many cases this is not possible as there is an insufficient supply of houses in rural areas. I hope that the results of Broughton’s successful community engagement will encourage other rural villages to develop their own schemes.”