Dear Residents Friday 16 October 2026 is the deadline for comments on the Planning Application for the HTR NW corner layout, including the proposed Visitor Centre, Hub and Bird Hide. The Parish Council is objecting to the submitted plans w.r.t. to all three because we consider there are real design flaws and associated issues that the applicant (Portsmouth Water) needs to address first before approval is given. Our letter is on our website: www.rowlandscastlepc.org.uk/event/rcpc-letter-to-havant-borough-council-relating-to-phase-9-north-west-corner-and-visitor-centre-of-the-havant-thicket-reservoir-development. If, after reading it, you agree with the thrust of our arguments you can either send a short supporting letter to planning.development@havant.gov.uk indicating you agree with the Parish Council’s objections and adding any short pertinent comments from your perspective OR take our comments and the points below and draft your own letter. The Parish Council recognises that time is short and therefore a supporting letter is the better option.
Some Key Issues are:
* The visitor centre being located on a floating pontoon (island) within the wetland conservation area where it will cause more disturbance to wildlife and be more difficult and expensive to run.
* Provision of external terraces over the wetland which will increase noise and disturbance to wildlife, as well as litter blow from tables. * The bird hide being too small, badly designed and only for education use with no public access. This is a wasted opportunity for the community; it should be larger and dual purpose for all to enjoy when not needed for educational purposes i.e. accessible to young and old and those with reduced mobility. The bird hide design is totally unsuitable and needs to be reworked to be more in tune with the landscape and with low visual impact, as most bird hides are.
* The proposed material change for the facilities to be used at night when the original proposal assumed no night time use. This will require lighting in the NW corner and vehicles using the Northern Access Road at night.
While not obvious in the main application, text within the supporting documents confirms that there is planned ‘out of hours use’ for a restaurant and events. The original reservoir planning application and environmental impact assessment assumed no nighttime use of the facilities. The visitor centre being used after dark will increase the impact on the nighttime ecology (bats, nightjar, woodcock, badgers and glow worms) due to lighting and vehicle movements.
The Council’s letter includes a request for some Conditions to be applied should the Application be approved. You can find the application documents at: Planning Application: APP/26/00574<service.havant.gov.uk/pr/s/detail/a1ESl000007kuCr> Objections and comments must be emailed to Havant Borough Council by end Friday 16 Oct 26. Email: planning.development@havant.gov.uk<mailto:planning.development@havant.gov.uk> Quote the planning application reference: APP/26/00574. Please include your address and postcode.
Chris Stanley Chairman RCPC Cllr.c.stanley@rowlandscastleparishcouncil.gov.uk
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Some Key Issues are:
* The visitor centre being located on a floating pontoon (island) within the wetland conservation area where it will cause more disturbance to wildlife and be more difficult and expensive to run.
* Provision of external terraces over the wetland which will increase noise and disturbance to wildlife, as well as litter blow from tables. * The bird hide being too small, badly designed and only for education use with no public access. This is a wasted opportunity for the community; it should be larger and dual purpose for all to enjoy when not needed for educational purposes i.e. accessible to young and old and those with reduced mobility. The bird hide design is totally unsuitable and needs to be reworked to be more in tune with the landscape and with low visual impact, as most bird hides are.
* The proposed material change for the facilities to be used at night when the original proposal assumed no night time use. This will require lighting in the NW corner and vehicles using the Northern Access Road at night.
While not obvious in the main application, text within the supporting documents confirms that there is planned ‘out of hours use’ for a restaurant and events. The original reservoir planning application and environmental impact assessment assumed no nighttime use of the facilities. The visitor centre being used after dark will increase the impact on the nighttime ecology (bats, nightjar, woodcock, badgers and glow worms) due to lighting and vehicle movements.
The Council’s letter includes a request for some Conditions to be applied should the Application be approved. You can find the application documents at: Planning Application: APP/26/00574<service.havant.gov.uk/pr/s/detail/a1ESl000007kuCr> Objections and comments must be emailed to Havant Borough Council by end Friday 16 Oct 26. Email: planning.development@havant.gov.uk<mailto:planning.development@havant.gov.uk> Quote the planning application reference: APP/26/00574. Please include your address and postcode.
Chris Stanley Chairman RCPC Cllr.c.stanley@rowlandscastleparishcouncil.gov.uk
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