Forces for Change: Borough-Wide
Built Development and Urbanisation
Similar to other areas within the south of England, the Borough has experienced significant expansion of urban areas and pressure for development in many settlements. With the pressure for further growth continuing, current government guidance promotes first the redevelopment of brownfield sites within existing urban areas over the development of green field sites. Despite this there still remains significant pressure on countryside areas with potential impacts on the landscape character. In Hampshire County Council’s Structure Plan 1996-2011 and the Test Valley Borough Local Plan Review, the housing allocation for the Test Borough is for 6160 new dwellings for the north of the Borough, including a new community of 3000 dwellings proposed for Andover. 2730 dwellings are proposed for the south of the Borough, plus an additional reserve of up to 1000 dwellings. In the future, further housing land may be needed if government policy on meeting housing demand changes.
General urbanisation is also affecting both the urban fringe and remoter rural areas. Typical forces of change are:
Demands for higher lighting levels and security lighting
Homogenous development and building materials and styles
Visual intrusion from neighbouring urban areas
Demand for protection from flooding
Expansion of gardens into the adjacent open countryside
Suburban influences of modern features such as fencing, garaging, signage and development related landscaping.
Community led initiatives such as countryside design summaries, parish plans, village design statements (as have been completed for a number of villages), conservation area appraisals and development design statements can significantly help to develop and promote good design solutions.