The future of housing development in Winchester has been thrown into further uncertainty after the city council announced new delays to its Local Plan — a key planning document that will guide where and how homes are built until 2040. 

Originally expected to be adopted by August 2024, the plan is now not due to be in place until later this year.

The delay leaves developers able to submit proposals under existing planning rules, which some campaigners argue are outdated and less environmentally robust. 

Green Party councillor Danny Lee expressed concern that the postponement could lead to lower sustainability standards. 

“Lower environmental standards will continue for longer,” he said.

“All developments will be assessed against the current Local Plan.” 

Community groups have warned that the delay could lead to increased pressure on greenfield land and make it harder to meet local climate goals.

The city already has some of the highest housing costs in the South of England, with students and younger renters among the hardest hit. 

Despite the criticism, city officials say the delay is necessary to ensure a legally sound and well-evidenced plan.

Councillor Jackie Porter, cabinet member for place and the Local Plan, said the new timeline protects communities from unplanned development. 

“We are on track to produce a sound and evidence-based plan,” she said.

“Future development will be managed, responsible and in keeping with its surroundings.” 

Council leader Martin Tod also defended the process, noting that planning inspectors had given a positive initial response to the draft version of the plan in September. 

“I’m really pleased,” he said.

“We wanted the highest possible environmental standards and more affordable homes — this keeps us on track to deliver.” 

The Local Plan plays a vital role in setting housing targets for the next 15 years and is seen as vital to addressing both Winchester’s housing needs and its environmental commitments. 

House prices in Winchester have reached record highs, with some housing agencies indicating that they have seen the sharpest annual rise of any UK city.

Average prices have increased significantly over the past few years, reaching more than £500,000 and placing Winchester as one of the least affordable cities in the UK to buy a home.  

However, with final adoption delayed, tensions between developers, local politicians and campaigners look set to continue.

The main tournament will take place in Gibraltar between 19-28 September next year

Charlotte Dunkley helped her team qualify for the World Netball Youth Cup, but unfortunately, she will not be able to participate in the tournament after being ruled ineligible due to her age when the event takes place.

Having previously played for Weston Park Blades in Winchester as her first club, Charlotte took part in the qualifiers held in Cardiff between 24-29 September and helped Scotland qualify for the tournament.

Wales and Northern Ireland will also join Scotland in qualifying from the European section. The event featured players from the Isle of Man, the Republic of Ireland, and the UAE.

Originally Charlotte began playing Netball when she was eight at her local primary school after joining an after-school club which piqued her interest in the sport.

This led her to join Weston Park Blades located in Winchester, which would lead to her signing her first professional contract with Surrey Storm when she was 18.

To begin with, Charlotte wasn’t entirely sure if she was going to be able to make the qualifiers after sustaining an injury not too long before the tournament began, but she was determined to make sure she was fit for it as she knew this would be her last event at the under-21 level before ageing out.

Also said it was “something special” to be able to help her team qualify and be a part of the team even though she wouldn’t be able to take part in the World Cup.

When asked about her future goals and aims Charlotte said that the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow held in two years’ time and the Netball World Cup in Sydney in 2027.

As well as getting an international call-up for Scotland, but had been on the radar of the senior squad with them coming down to watch how she and her team performed in Cardiff in the qualifiers, with possibly wanting to call some of them up to the national team in November.

Recently Charlotte had transferred from Surrey Storm to London Pulse saying that going into the previous season she felt like she didn’t have any major expectations of herself and just played freely with no pressure on her shoulders as she wasn’t a senior member of the team having only joined that season but just wanting to improve and make herself a more rounded player.

She believes that the people who have gone before her like the England Women’s Commonwealth Gold medalists help to inspire the next generation and encourage anyone else to go in with an open mind who wants to pick up a Netball and get involved in the sport.

Newcomers Colden Common Colden stay sixth following their 1-1 draw with fourth placed Ash United.

The Green Army, who were knocked out of the Surrey Premier Cup during the week, took the lead with Luca Scaneilia’s strike from outside the box curled into the top-left corner before Ben Sunley’s volley from close-range.

The Stallions controlled the early stages of the game as Brad Lethbridge’s free-kick was directed wide, Jimmy Walters’ lob from five yards out went over the bar and Will Erinc headed wide at the back post inside the opening ten minutes.

Continuing to pile on the pressure with Cam Stone being denied from young goalkeeper Will Frazao, which led to a counter attack for Ash as Ryan Lopes fired wide. 

Ash finally settled into the game and created a few chances of their own but none testing the man in between the sticks for Colden Common, James Egeland-Jensen, with the best chance being Toby Harris putting his effort wide. 

Before Ash’s opener, the five-time Hampshire Premier League winners had two key chances to take the lead.

Lethbridge picked out Sunley at the near post but yet again Frazao denied the former Winchester City forward as new signing Harry Osman failed to convert the rebound. 

In the dying stages of the first-half, the Green Army broke the deadlock as Harris weaved past two defenders before finding the feet of Scaneilla as he curled his effort from range past Egeland-Jensen however their joy was short lived as Lethridge’s throw found an onrushing Sunley who volleyed home just four minutes later. 

HT: Colden Common 1-1 Ash United

Neither side started off well in the second-half, despite both scoring late in the first-half. Jimmer Henderson fired wide after combining with goalscorer Sunley, before defender Sam Middleton latched onto substitute Josh Bowerman’s delivery towards the back-post but his header was directed over the bar. 

Another counter-attack for Ash saw Harris make a sharp move from the left and knocked it past Lethbridge, but his low drive was palmed away for a corner by Egeland-James towards the latter stages of the game. 

Osman was denied by the post but the Stallions had to settle for a point in their 11th league game of the season. 

FT: Colden Common 1-1 Ash United