Applications surge prompts council planning expansion

A surge in major applications for residential schemes has prompted a district council planning team to ramp up its momentum on approvals.

East Hampshire District Council said it had to deal with 70 major applications for housing schemes last year and the trend is continuing this year.

Development management team leader Nick Upton told Planning: "We have a five-year land supply in place and are aware of the need to continue approving applications for more housing.

"But they must be in suitable parts of the district. East Hampshire is an attractive part of England.

"As well as focusing growth on urban areas we have the South Downs National Park, so it's a rapidly changing environment overlooked by outstanding countryside."

The council intends to expand by recruiting a development management team leader for major applications.

The postholder will manage a small team of officers and take on their own caseload of more complex or priority cases.

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