Winchester City Council is moving to the next stage of producing its new Local Plan which will shape development across the district (for areas outside the South Downs National Park) for the period up to 2040.

Following feedback from stakeholders and communities across the Winchester district on the draft Regulation 19  Local Plan it has now been submitted for examination – please see Local Plan Examination - Winchester District Local Plan

The new Local Plan addresses major challenges including:

• Responding to the climate emergency, setting the highest possible standards for environmental design for homes and making it attractive, safe and easy to walk, cycle and use other low carbon methods of transport.
• Affordable housing – recognising it is more difficult for all ages (especially younger generations) to find homes they can afford, for the first time, the plan replaces an ‘expectation’ for affordable housing that was too often missed, with a minimum requirement that developers have to achieve; and
• A ‘brownfield site first’ approach across the district.  All sites put forward in the plan have been assessed to have the best sustainability and have the least environmental impact on the district. 90% of sites submitted by developers have not been included.

Last Updated: Wednesday 29 January 2025