‘Very concerned’ council leader to meet developer
A council leader will meet Barratt Homes bosses following ‘potential breaches’ of planning rules at a development site.
Councillor Alex Rennie, leader of Havant Borough Council, said he is ‘very concerned’ about complaints surrounding the 195-home estate currently under construction off Sinah Lane on Hayling Island.
It was reported on April 19 that residents raised fears over the amount of surface water that was being discharged into the island’s ditch network.
Cllr Rennie said: ‘The council is continuing to investigate potential breaches to planning control and is working through the legal process which began with a formal letter – setting out our concerns and calling on Barratt to immediately rectify the issue.
‘I’ve requested a meeting with the managing director of Barratt Developments. Please be assured we are taking this very seriously.’
In his letter to residents, Alex Robinson, the council’s executive head of place, said the formal letter expressed drainage concerns under the provisions of the Building Act and the Environmental Protections Act.
He added he will be attending the meeting with Cllr Rennie and the council’s chief executive.
The formal letter read: ‘The council will be presenting Barratt Developments with the issues log/ tracker that has been prepared and setting out what actions we require to be undertaken to address these concerns.
‘Following the meeting, the council will then consider its options for further actions.’
A spokesperson for Barratt David Wilson Homes Southampton said: ‘We have conducted a full investigation and we do not believe there are any breaches of planning conditions at the site.
‘Foul and surface water drainage are managed and maintained separately and our investigation showed our temporary pumping stations are working as they should be.
‘We are working to address complaints from residents about signage, dust and lighting, which is occasionally left on for security of the site at night.
‘We look forward to meeting the council to share our findings.’