by Ray George
On 8th January 2016, Eastleigh Borough Council granted outline planning permission for an 1100 dwelling development in North Stoneham Park (Application No. O/15/76023). This development would build on Doncaster Farm Recreation Ground and the Jubilee and Stoneham Park Playing Fields lying south of Chestnut Avenue and west of Stoneham Lane. Under Eastleigh’s draft Local Plan 2011-2029, this would not be allowed unless the Council is satisfied that compensatory replacement playing fields can be provided which are of equal or greater benefit to the wider community than those which it replaces.
It is perhaps not widely appreciated that to fulfill this condition, the plan involves extensive development of playing fields south of the M27 along Stoneham Lane. This development was the preferred option in Eastleigh Council’s “Playing Pitch Strategy and Action Plan”. The area is about the same as the area of the playing fields being lost. The plans do not include using the land on the east side of Stoneham Way which is reached by an underpass and is subject to a village green application.
Included in the outline permission granted are associated facilities such as changing pavilion/hub building, spectator stands, enclosures, all-weather playing surfaces and floodlighting. The present plans are illustrative only, but contain one floodlit artificial grass football pitch, a cricket pavilion /changing rooms and 430 parking spaces. A new cycle route and footpath runs in the playing fields parallel to Stoneham Lane from the M27 underpass to the Southampton boundary.