UP TO 90 HOUSES PROPOSED FOR THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE (EMSWORTH)

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Protect Chichester Harbour National Landscape

Havant Borough Council’s (HBC) proposed Local Plan allocates up to 90 houses on the Horsefield - not just a 'green field' but a protected field in the Chichester Harbour National Landscape (previously known as the AONB) located south of Havant Road, opposite The Ropemaker.

What is happening now

The public consultation for the Local Plan, Building a Better Future, has now closed and will will be submitted to the Government Planning Inspector by the end of the year. They will decide whether it meets the legal compliance and soundness tests. If the Inspector decides the Local Plan meets these tests it will be adopted by HBC for future planning decisions.

"this consultation is for people to formally tell the Government inspector whether they consider the council has prepared a sound and legally compliant Local Plan." Ref: HBC's press release published on 21 July,

Read on to see why we believe the Horsefield allocation fails on both counts (soundness and legal compliance) which is the basis of our campaign.

THE HORSEFIELD (SITE EM08a added to the Local Plan in May 2026) SITS INSIDE THE CHICHESTER HARBOUR NATIONAL LANDSCAPE

What you can do now

This will give you keep you up to date with what we are doing as we follow the progress of the Local Plan

Learn more about the Local Plan, Building a Better Future

To familiarise yourself with the Havant Borough Council's proposals for the Horsefield we suggest you read the following:

Click HERE if you want to read the Local Plan

3. Share any photos, videos or audio of Brent Geese or Curlew on the Horsefield

How did we get here?

Much of Havant’s remaining greenspace has already been built on, and Havant Borough Council (HBC) is under pressure from unrealistic government housing targets to find yet more land.

Across the entire Chichester Harbour National Landscape - from Hayling Island to West Wittering - no major development has ever been approved; all applications have been refused. But approving just one scheme would set a precedent that could open the door to many more.

The Horsefield sits within the Chichester Harbour National Landscape (formerly known as 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' or AONB) and the new Local Plan now proposes up to 90 houses on the Horsefield, south of Havant Road (A259) opposite The Ropemakers in Emsworth. 'Site EM08a' (The Horsefield) was added to HBC's draft Local Plan (Building a Better Future) as late as May 2026.

At a Council meeting on 15 July 2026, councillors voted on whether EM08a should be removed from the draft Plan. The vote was split 16-16 with the Mayor's second (casting) vote keeping it in the Local Plan for this consultation.

THE HORSEFIELD (SITE EM08a) SITS INSIDE THE CHICHESTER HARBOUR NATIONAL LANDSCAPE

3 reasons the allocation fails

1. No proper justification

National planning rules say major development in a National Landscape should be refused unless there are exceptional circumstances and unless it is shown to be in the public interest. The council accepts that this test applies to the Horsefield, and that most of it could be carried out now. It has not carried it out. No exceptional circumstances have been identified and HBC has confirmed that no independent, site-specific assessment exists. No public interest has been stated. And Policy 30 then removes the test from the plan altogether for every site the council has chosen. We are asking why HBC is allocating a site that is unlikely to be able to meet the NPPF criteria at the application stage.

2. Contrary to national policy

The council’s own assessments previously found this site unsuitable. HBC have added a phrase to Policy 30 (page 253) within the Plan by inserting new words - 'other than where allocated within this local plan' - which appears designed to sidestep the justification requirements for building in the National Landscape. This makes Policy 30 non-compliant with the NPPF questioning the 'soundness' of the Plan.

3. The decision to add EM08a was last‑minute and lacked due process

The site was added in the final weeks of the plan process, avoiding the years of scrutiny applied to other sites, and it only passed Full Council on a casting vote after a debate focused on Government deadlines rather than whether the site is appropriate for development. This questions the 'legal compliance' issue as the process for preparing the plan has not been followed.

You can watch the recording of the 15 July Full Council meeting (from 1:42:30 for EM08a site amendment debate). This link is available for 90 days from the date of the meeting.

🗓️ Key dates

20 July 2026: Public consultation opened
9 September 2026, 5pm: Consultation ended
30 November 2026: Anticipated plan submission date to the Government’s Planning Inspector
31st December 2026: Government's Planning Inspector will have plan by now
2027: Examination hearings - we have requested to be there

Stay in the loop

The consultation is only the first round - the examination hearings will come in 2027. Leave your email and we’ll keep you posted on key dates and how to help. No spam, no sharing, unsubscribe anytime.

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