10/03/2026
An Open Letter on Draft Local Plan 2042 (March 2026)
https://www.rownercommunitytrust.org/an-open-letter-on-draft-local-plan-2042-march-2026/
Dear Residents,
You may have seen that the Council (GBC) has announced today (see 1 below) a draft of the 2042 Local Plan. This draft plan has identified a large part of Rowner (more specifically “Land at Rowner”) as a regeneration area (see map below).
Essentially the plan as outlined in the draft document (see page 236 for the main section – we will share a full list and commentary soon), is intending to repeat what happened as part of the Rowner Renewal Programme carried out over the 2010s in the “new” part of the neighbourhood.
While nobody is saying that the previous renewal programme delivered no improvement or was some sort of disaster. But in practice much of what was promised has not been delivered. The renewed parts of the neighbourhood continue to have significant issues with poor facilities such as inadequate green space and play areas, street lighting and maintenance issues etc.
We have six weeks to make a response to the draft local plan. We have already been undertaking some background work over the past few weeks. But we will be driven by residents in the areas directly affected about what they want to do.
Crudely speaking the key options are now:
1. Resist the proposal and provide clear and strong feedback as part of the consultation and subsequently when the plan goes to the planning inspector.
2. Confirm that this is the desired solution to the problems that the Council has identified and endorse the draft plan.
3. Begin preparing some alternative options that address the real issues that this part (and indeed all) of the neighbourhood faces and seek to include these in submissions on the draft local plan then seek to have them included as part of the Rowner Pride in Place programme.
4. Or a combination of the above, or none of the above!
Whatever happens we believe that there are specific issues and strengths in Rowner that should be reflected in a more balanced and holistic regeneration plan. Ultimately, we want to see the unique layout, history and identity of the neighbourhood, which is valued by so many residents, reflected in a deliverable plan for Rowner, which is also by Rowner.
Whatever the decision made by residents, associations and companies and other local organisations (including Rowner Community Trust) we need to ensure that Rowner’s voice is heard in the deliberations about its future. If a regeneration programme does then go ahead, we need to go into it fully informed and equipped and with our eyes wide open!
We now want to run (another) workshop for local residents on the potential implications and issues from what is being proposed in the draft Local Plan for residents in those areas. We will need to be aware of the requirements, including the grounds for supporting or opposing the plan as well as what the planning inspectorate might require from us if we decide to take this further.
Again, we may decide we want to work together in a shared submission or via several aligned submissions or to take separate paths. We would also suggest that you separately schedule your own meetings to discuss the draft local plan and agree the key elements of your position to feed into the Council as part of their consultation process and as part of any shared or separate submissions.
The date for the workshop is Tuesday the 17th of March 18.00-20.00 (with coffee and tea provided) at the Ni**od Centre PO13 8AA.
If residents then feel that it is useful and want to share/discuss/learn more than further workshops will be arranged. We have been disappointed that the Council is not scheduling a Rowner public meeting as they did with the previous iteration of the plan. We will now be requesting that they organise a local session or if wanted we could arrange for local attendance at another site (see 3 below)? We will publicise a local session if one is going to be held.
We need to ensure that residents voices, especially those most directly affected are heard as part of the planning process of your neighbourhood.
Yours sincerely,
Leigh Rampton
Chief Officer
(1) https://www.gosport.gov.uk/article/2678/Gosport-Borough-Local-Plan-2042
(2) https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-plans
(3) https://www.gosport.gov.uk/article/3148/Exhibitions-and-Consultation-Arrangements
