That was a figure mentioned at the Whitchurch Town Assembly.
Of course that's not the total for Whitchurch, but sites adding up to around that number have been identified as having potential for development.
The figure highlights just how important planning decisions are to the town's future.
So which sites would be best, and how many houses?
Currently the Neighbourhood Plan team are identifying the most appropriate sites for the town's needs – which have been agreed as 350 houses over the next 15 years.
Locations for 200 of these are to be selected through the Neighbourhood Plan process, but where should they go?
Risk of large scale developments
Until the sites are decided and accepted by local people by referendum, the town is at risk of large scale planning applications by speculative housing developers. They are already starting to line up at the doors of the planning offices – bulldozers and cement mixers are being prepared.
Where could they be built?
Could houses go at Winchester Road at Webbs Farm with maybe a distributor road reaching across to Micheldever Road?
Could the Bloswood Lane allotment site be extended fully north to the railway with perhaps access via Ardglen or upper Evingar?
Could all the land between the Cemetery and Bloswood Lane behind Park View be built on?
Might Station Road become a major access point, or maybe the old railway tunnel utilised?
Could the land north of Lynch Hill Park become a new area for homes or might the large multi-storey apartment development previously proposed for the Evingar Road Serendipity Sam's site be resurrected?
Maybe a new 'green' town between Whitchurch and the proposed windfarm?
It is a blank sheet - almost.
It is up to us to decide what goes on it.
Lots of options
Perhaps future plans could include a business park north of the railway station or an out-of-town supermarket complex near the A34. Maybe a new sports and leisure centre could be provided with new games facilities?
Ideas that are presently no more than a back of an envelope scribble could become reality or they may be consigned to the bin. Maybe that bypass from the A34 to the B3400 with a bridge over the River Test could again raise its head? Who knows?
Housing mix - we must get this right.
Of major concern is housing mix. More five bed homes? More single person flats? More 'starter' homes for young growing families? Of prime importance is that we cater for the people who live here - the young people who have been brought up here and want to stay and the elderly who don't want to be forced to leave.
'Affordable' housing is essential to the social development of Whitchurch and it needs to be planned in NOW. This is our chance to do so.
QUESTION: The options and ideas are almost endless, but who decides which are realistic and good for the future of Whitchurch?
ANSWER: It is the people of Whitchurch and that means 'getting involved'.
Realistic solutions
It is hoped the Neighbourhood Plan team will be able to present some realistic options towards the end of the summer, based on evidence they have been collating. The team have been working hard and more focus groups on specific subjects as well as further public consultaions are being planned.
So what do local people think?
A tower block on the meadow or a car park on the Rec anyone?
Get in touch with the Neighbourhood Plan team through the Town Council.
This is setting out the whole future of the town.
It is in our hands.
John Buckley
Views are entirely my own.
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