A run-down farm and nearly 15 acres of open land between Sheet and Petersfield is on the market.
Lords Farm is being sold in up to four lots by agents Savills.
The property includes around three acres of land opposite Sheet Primary School and a seven-acre field off Kingsfernsden Lane, adjacent to the railway line.
The agent says the property and its land has significant potential for residential and commercial development, but any plans to build on the land are likely to be met with stiff local opposition.
The plots are on the edge of the Petersfield settlement boundary, as set out in the town’s Neighbourhood Development Plan.
There’s an open day on 25 June.
What does the South Downs National Park Authority say?
In response to concerns raised by Petersfield Community Radio listeners, the planning authority has issued us with this statement:
The South Downs National Park has a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment which can be seen here: https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/planning-policy/south-downs-local-plan/local-plan-evidence-base/strategic-housing-land-availability-assessment-shlaa/
Lords Farm has not been assessed in our SHLAA to date, nor are we aware of it being submitted for a future SHLAA update.
According to the South Downs Local Plan, the location is outside the settlement boundaries for Petersfield and Sheet. As it is classed as open countryside, the presumption would be against development, although no planning application has been received by the Authority.
SHLAA site EA116 Land North of Reservoir Lane, between Petersfield and Sheet, was assessed and rejected due to the landscape assessment, which concluded that large-scale development at this location would have a significant detrimental impact on the landscape.
South Downs National Park Authority, 4 June 2020
What do you think?
Do you live on Waterworks Road, School Lane or the area near Kingsfernsden Lane? What do you think about the sale, and would you want to see housing built on the green spaces between Petersfield and Sheet?
Email your views to news@petersfieldradio.uk or phone and leave a message on 01730 555 500.
That would effectively be the annexing of Petersfield to Sheet complete. With no areas left to decide the 2.
Sad times.
No way should this land be available for housing.This is green belt and must remain so .the local access roads are to small and would have to be rebuilt . Making for even more development.
I agree this land must not be made available for development and must be kept as open countryside. It is likely the old-fashioned farming methods used at Lords Farm over the years have left a rich flora and fauna which must be conserved at all costs.
Were houses to be built here, Kingsfernsden Lane would need a massive upgrade, probably requiring destruction of the current ancient tree lines. Otherwise it couldn’t cope with the current traffic plus big queues if/when the level crossing is upgraded, let alone the additional traffic from such houses.