THE SOUTH Downs National Park Authority has outlined its reasons for refusing planning permission for the proposed Bohunt Park housing development last month.

Green Village Investments put forward an application for up to 140 residential units, including 40 per cent affordable housing, custom build plots, live-work units, a farm shop and cafe, a nature reserve area, a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace area, sustainable drainage infrastructure and associated access works situated within the park, off Portsmouth Road.

The South Downs National Park Authority stated there was no exceptional circumstance, or public interest, to justify planning permission for such a major development and granting planning permission for such a large built up area in a previously undeveloped setting would harm the landscape the report said.

The authority pointed out the development would also have other adverse effects on the environment and recreational opportunities, including the experiental qualities of adjoining footpaths and wildlife.

In addition its energy standards were not so exceptional as to make it a sustainable development.

But most controversially it said Bohunt Park did not meet the housing need as identified in the adopted East Hampshire joint core strategy, whose requirement for Liphook, it said, could be met on sites elsewhere outside the designated area.

The report outlined the proposed development, which is outside the existing settlement boundary, had not been allocated in the national park authority’s Local Plan or a neighbourhood plan, with no evidence it would foster the economic and social well-being of the local communities within the national park – nor to have any more beneficial impact on the local economy than any other housing site of the same size in Liphook.

The park authority claimed inadequate information had been provided on the existence of protected species within the site, and on the management arrangements of the Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace area.

As a result, it had not been demonstrated that any adverse wildlife impacts within the site would be avoided or appropriately mitigated for, or the development would protect and strengthen populations of protected species.

Measures had not been put in place to secure the delivery of 40 per cent affordable housing of an appropriate social housing mix, national park authority officers said.

It also poined to a lack of financial contributions towards primary school extensions, transport improvements, a community building or a community project worker, or the delivery and maintenance of the on-site open space or children’s play area.

Neither was there provision of allotments, or a community barn, nor footpaths and connections to the bridleway network or any management arrangements for such community facilities.

There was also no provision of providing the already approved doctor’s surgery at a subsidised rent, nor provision of land for a football pitch and pavilion.

And no local employment and training agreement was included, the park authority said.

But angry Bohunt Park supporters point to the planning permissions granted by the South Downs National Park Authority for a new medical centre, football and cricket pitches and community allotments in June 2010. And in March 2013, a community building was also approved and in March 2014 plans for a new clubhouse pavilion and pedestrian/cycle link to the football pitches was also granted.