Hampshire
A southern county of rich history, encompassing the New Forest National Park, the cities of Winchester and Southampton, and the South Downs.
Planning Permission in Hampshire
Planning permission in Hampshire is obtained from one of eleven district or borough councils depending on the location, or from the South Downs or New Forest National Park Authority for sites within those park boundaries. Hampshire County Council administers county-level planning for minerals and waste, but all residential planning decisions are made at district or national park authority level.
Winchester City Council's planning pages cover the area around Winchester and its extensive rural district. The council's adopted Local Plan Part 1 (Joint Core Strategy) and Local Plan Part 2 (Development Management and Site Allocations) form the primary policy framework. Design Policy MTRA4 requires all new development to demonstrate high design quality and to respond to the character of the local area. Within the South Downs National Park fringe, the South Downs Design Guide is an additional material consideration.
Test Valley Borough Council covers the area around Andover and Romsey and the villages of the Test Valley. The council's Local Plan (adopted 2016) includes policies addressing self-build and custom housebuilding. The council's design policies reference the Hampshire Design Guide as a key reference document for assessing the quality of residential proposals. Community Infrastructure Levy is charged at rates set out in the council's adopted CIL charging schedule, and the self-build exemption is available for qualifying applicants.
East Hampshire District Council covers the eastern part of the county, including Petersfield, Alton and the South Downs fringe. The district's local planning environment is dominated by the South Downs National Park to the south and the setting of the Meon Valley and East Hampshire Downs to the north. The council's adopted Local Plan sets out a spatial strategy focused on the principal settlements while protecting the open countryside and its valued landscapes.
The Hampshire Design Guide, produced by Hampshire County Council in partnership with the districts, is the key reference document for residential design quality across Hampshire. It provides guidance on building forms, materials, landscape integration and sustainability standards that reflects the county's diverse vernacular traditions. Self-builders should treat this guide as a primary design reference alongside the Local Plan policies of the relevant district.
Community Infrastructure Levy is charged by several Hampshire district and borough councils. Self-builders who qualify for the exemption - intending to occupy the completed home as their principal residence for at least three years - should submit the exemption claim form before development commences. Failure to do so risks the full CIL liability becoming payable. Each district council's CIL team can confirm the applicable rate and the exemption procedure.
Validation requirements across Hampshire's district councils follow a broadly consistent model. Standard requirements include a completed application form, location and site plans, a design and access statement referencing the Hampshire Design Guide, and the statutory fee. Site-specific additional requirements include heritage impact assessments for sites near listed buildings or in conservation areas, ecological surveys for sites near protected habitats or with potential for protected species, and flood risk assessments for sites in the Test, Itchen, Meon and Hamble river corridors.
Winchester City Council's planning pages cover the area around Winchester and its extensive rural district. The council's adopted Local Plan Part 1 (Joint Core Strategy) and Local Plan Part 2 (Development Management and Site Allocations) form the primary policy framework. Design Policy MTRA4 requires all new development to demonstrate high design quality and to respond to the character of the local area. Within the South Downs National Park fringe, the South Downs Design Guide is an additional material consideration.
Test Valley Borough Council covers the area around Andover and Romsey and the villages of the Test Valley. The council's Local Plan (adopted 2016) includes policies addressing self-build and custom housebuilding. The council's design policies reference the Hampshire Design Guide as a key reference document for assessing the quality of residential proposals. Community Infrastructure Levy is charged at rates set out in the council's adopted CIL charging schedule, and the self-build exemption is available for qualifying applicants.
East Hampshire District Council covers the eastern part of the county, including Petersfield, Alton and the South Downs fringe. The district's local planning environment is dominated by the South Downs National Park to the south and the setting of the Meon Valley and East Hampshire Downs to the north. The council's adopted Local Plan sets out a spatial strategy focused on the principal settlements while protecting the open countryside and its valued landscapes.
The Hampshire Design Guide, produced by Hampshire County Council in partnership with the districts, is the key reference document for residential design quality across Hampshire. It provides guidance on building forms, materials, landscape integration and sustainability standards that reflects the county's diverse vernacular traditions. Self-builders should treat this guide as a primary design reference alongside the Local Plan policies of the relevant district.
Community Infrastructure Levy is charged by several Hampshire district and borough councils. Self-builders who qualify for the exemption - intending to occupy the completed home as their principal residence for at least three years - should submit the exemption claim form before development commences. Failure to do so risks the full CIL liability becoming payable. Each district council's CIL team can confirm the applicable rate and the exemption procedure.
Validation requirements across Hampshire's district councils follow a broadly consistent model. Standard requirements include a completed application form, location and site plans, a design and access statement referencing the Hampshire Design Guide, and the statutory fee. Site-specific additional requirements include heritage impact assessments for sites near listed buildings or in conservation areas, ecological surveys for sites near protected habitats or with potential for protected species, and flood risk assessments for sites in the Test, Itchen, Meon and Hamble river corridors.
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