Lynes Farm and the case of "Tilted Balance"
Lynes Farm and the case of Tilted Balance
Despite opposition from Ringwood Town Council and concerned residents, the NFDC Planning Cabinet today (11/06/2025) again approved the developer’s plan for the Lynes Farm site, including the increase in the number of houses to 400. It was a close thing with the cabinet equally divided until the Chair used her casting vote.
Objections based on flooding records, procedural irregularities and the example of the Beaumont estate (built on a low risk flood assessment (flood risk one) and now recently redesignate as high risk (flood risk 3) by the Environment Agency) were brushed aside by the planning officer and the Chair.
The planning officer introduced the concept of tilted balance which he explained meant that even if there were irregularities in the assessment process, even if procedure had not been followed correctly and even if there were good arguments against a development, “planning” could approve a developer’s plans, on the basis of “tilted Balance”. How to determine the fair use of tilted balance remained obscure unless it means the developer gets his way even when a proposal is obviously misconceived.
The reason for writing this letter is that one of the speakers at the meeting introduced another novel concept (at least novel as far as planning is concerned, or so it seems). She suggested that, if the project goes ahead, the NFDC should insist that the developer agrees to indemnify any householder whose property suffers any damage from flooding in the first ten years of ownership. After all, approval for the project is dependent on the assurances of the developer that the flood mitigation measures are adequate, in which case it would cost the developer nothing. The NFDC cabinet ignored this suggestion, although elegantly presented as a fair way of protecting the wholly innocent homeowner form over-optimistic assurances.
So, if you think it would be a good idea for the developer to agree to compensate house-owners in the event of flooding, why not write to Christine Ward, Chair of the NFDC Planning Committee, at Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, Hampshire SO43 7PA, and let her know. She dismissed all objections to the development, saying she “We need to get this underway and going”. Well, this would be a way of proceeding without putting 400 families at risk, with no hope or means of any redress.
