Council planners ramp up efforts on housing and business sites

The improving economy has led a Hampshire local authority planning team to increase its focus on commercial and housing projects.

Test Valley Borough Council principal planning officer Laura McKay told Planning: “The improving economic situation has led to lots of activity in rural, commercial and in-town projects.

“We've had lots of housing applications but we also have a lot of business parks and are seeing a lot of commercial applications such as change-of-use or upgrading business premises.”

The council is seeking to recruit a planning officer to process a range of application types and prepare reports for committees and writing appeal statements.

“The new postholder will be part of our northern area development management team and will help us balance development with maintaining the character and environment of Test Valley", McKay said. 

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