90 HOUSES PROPOSED FOR THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE (EMSWORTH)
DEADLINE FOR LOCAL PLAN CONSULTATION FEEDBACK
5PM WEDNESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2026
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Protect Chichester Harbour National Landscape
Protect Chichester Harbour National Landscape
Havant Borough Council’s (HBC) proposed Local Plan allocates 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
What is happening now
The public consultation for the Local Plan, Building a Better Future, is open now and closes on Wednesday 9 September at 5pm after which it will be submitted to the Government Planning Inspector, who 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
What you can do
- Look at the links in the 'Case' Tab
This will give you a starting point on where to look for evidence
To familiarise yourself with the Havant Borough Council's proposals for the Horsefield we suggest you read the following:
Page 98: EM08a site allocation
Page 253: Policy 30 (Chichester Harbour National Landscape Policy)
Deadline: 5pm, Wednesday 9 September 2026.
Responses go to HBC staff who will collate the feedback to give to the Government Inspector.
YOUR OWN WORDS MATTER!
A short response in your own words carries far more weight than a long one copied from someone else. Everyone will have their own opinions on the impact of building in the National Landscape. Some that we have already heard include:The National Landscape exists to protect the beauty of this place and people’s enjoyment of it.
If the council is allowed to allocate one part of the National Landscape for building what will stop developers from demanding more?
If you include this site it creates a precedent for building in the Chichester Harbour National Landscape.
Surely 90 houses in one spot inside the National Landscape, will change its charater?
Prefer paper? Paper copies of the form are available from collection from the Public Service Plaza, Civic Centre Road, PO9 2AX and on request by emailing policy.design@havant.gov.uk or calling 023 9244 6539. Forms are now also available from Emsworth Library.
How did we get here?
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 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
3 reasons the allocation fails
1. No proper justification
National planning rules (Paragraph 190) 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 evidence must be provided before any decision is made. The council has confirmed that no independent, site-specific assessment exists, saying the impact “will only be possible to determine” at a future planning application stage. The Council is allocating first and will justify later which is not allowed under national policy questioning the 'soundness' of the Plan.
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 nine new words - “where allocated within this Local Plan or” - 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 highly contested
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 may not have 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
🗓️ Key dates
20 July 2026: Public consultation opens
9 September 2026, 5pm: Deadline for sharing your views
30 November 2026: Anticipated plan submission date to the Government’s Planning Inspector
2027: Examination hearings - we will request to be there
Stay in the loop
Stay in the loop
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