Residents’ fury over plans to build 20,000 new homes on countryside that inspired Jane Austen

Villagers living in the heart of Jane Austen’s country have reacted to ‘scandalous’ plans that see their beloved countryside buried under a sea of ​​concrete.

Locals in East Hampshire fear Labour’s housing targets will destroy one of Britain’s most treasured landscapes by turning the green spaces that inspired Pride and Prejudice into sprawling housing estates.

A new Land Availability Assessment has found large areas of land across East Hampshire District Council’s area could be allocated for development.

Under the proposals, which are still in their early stages, more than 1,100 new homes could be built every year for the next 18 years.

Residents have vowed to fight back, warning the move would devastate wildlife, disrupt local services and destroy a cultural landmark cherished by fans of the 19th-century novelist.

Alex Perry, 55, who has lived in Neatham for 11 years, said the plans would ruin the view from the backyard chalk piles.

The father-of-three said: ‘They will destroy some of the most beautiful countryside in the south of England.

‘There have been no attempts to build any of the accompanying infrastructure. We already experience sewer leaks and months-long waits to get appointments at doctors’ offices.

‘It was the land that told Jane Austen who she was. If you read his books, you will see that they are full of descriptions of this landscape.

‘These lands are our identity. That’s the essence of who we are, and they plan to embody that. That’s why people are so upset.’

Jane Austen (1775-1817) is remembered for her six major novels: Feeling and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, ​​Persuasion, and Northanger Abbey

Austen, who lived from 1775 to 1817, is said to have been inspired by the Hampshire countryside when writing her famous novels.

He was born in Steventon and lived most of his life in Chawton before dying in Winchester.

Alex, who is originally from the Midlands, said the council put forward plans to develop the land last year, but local residents objected through public consultation.

The new housing scheme is more than twice the size of what was proposed at the time and the father claims the council is trying to push through the scheme without giving residents another chance to object.

That’s why she founded the Save Austen Country group and started an initiative. petition It exceeded 1,000 signatures in the first 72 hours.

He added: ‘They’re hoping to do it without anyone noticing, which is quite outrageous. Building 20,000 homes in untouched countryside is a scandalously secretive venture.

‘Everyone understands the need for new housing but that doesn’t mean you’re building it in the wrong places.

‘We are trying to combat this. I’ve been contacted by Jane Austen communities from around the world, all furious. This is their place of pilgrimage..’

Another group opposing the new development is the A31 alliance, led by Sir Charles Cockburn, 74, who says the government’s housing targets are too unrealistic.

Another group opposing the new development is the A31 alliance, chaired by Sir Charles Cockburn, 74, who said the government’s housing targets were too unrealistic.

Potential development area near Alton, proposed area marked with red dotted line

A resident of Kayın Village for 30 years says that it is impossible for the municipality to achieve this target without building construction in the areas due to the abundance of national parks.

He said: ‘My village, along with others within five miles, will be affected by a plan that will see housing built on local fields.

‘The infrastructure is not there yet and the urbanization of the countryside that the government is trying to do is madness.

‘These are the areas Jane Austen would frequent. There will be construction everywhere. We are looking at a disaster.

‘I love this region and am determined to do everything I can to protect our irreplaceable countryside.’

EHDC said: ‘The petition refers to development plans on the A31 corridor which do not exist as a planning application or site allocation. There is no significant planning application for these areas and a Local Plan which will allocate sites for housing in parts of East Hampshire outside the South Downs National Park is currently being compiled.

‘The sites shown on the petition organizers’ website are taken from our Land Availability Assessment (LAA). Land Availability Assessment is a technical document that includes all potential development areas.

‘This forms the basis of the list of areas to be considered for allocation in the Local Plan. These will be examined and evaluated for suitability, and those deemed unsuitable will not be allocated to development in the Local Plan. Not all sites in the LAA will be unused.

General view of areas that could be converted into housing around Alton

‘Having said that, the Government’s housing target for East Hampshire is high. In December 2024 the Government almost doubled our target, meaning sites suitable for this level of development must be found.

‘This problem is further complicated by the fact that East Hampshire is home to part of the South Downs National Park.

‘A total of 57 percent of the district is within the national park, it does its own planning and there is no obligation to allocate any housing area. This puts East Hampshire in a challenging position: there is a huge housing need and only 43% of the area, including areas such as the A31 corridor, can be considered for development.

‘However, no decision has been made regarding land allocation at this stage. The Local Plan has not yet been completed and will not be adopted until summer 2027. ‘The next phase of formal consultation on the East Hampshire Local Plan is planned for Summer 2026.’