Lindford's Village Design Statement was approved by East Hampshire District Council in January 2007.  The following are the Conclusions and Design Guidelines.  Lindford Parish Council is hoping that East Hampshire District Council will put the full document on their website. 

Landscape Setting

Lindford is a small rural community with very clear boundaries. It is the overwhelming wish of residents that it should retain these characteristics.

• The clear nature of village boundaries, as defined by the settlement policy boundary in the Local Plan, should be respected. The rural setting of Lindford should be protected to avoid any further sprawling development beyond the settlement policy boundary.
• Any new development should be sympathetic to the general village setting and the particular characteristics of the area within the village in which it is located.
• Views of the river and countryside are important, for example the view to the east from Lindford Road between The Lindens and Lindford Bridge. These strategic views into and out of the village should be respected.
• The predominantly wooded nature of the village should be retained.
• New developments should, where possible, retain existing hedgerows and trees and incorporate such features into the layout and design. Old trees, hedges and walls should be given greater protection when planning applications are considered. This is especially important for trees with Tree Preservation Orders.

Historical Context and Housing Mix

Lindford has developed over many centuries and, although there is a preponderance of  20^th Century buildings, there is a core of older buildings representing earlier times. There is a good mixture of types of accommodation. Generally the built environment in Lindford is on a small scale, and of traditional materials.

• There is a need to maintain a good balance of housing types. New development should provide a mix of house types, appropriate to the identified need.
• New development should be in keeping with the village environment; it should respect the character and setting of existing buildings.
• Buildings should generally be 2 storeys or less in height. Buildings of more than 2 storeys will only be appropriate if the scale, height, mass and design respects the pattern of development and architectural characteristics of nearby properties and the surrounding area.
• In the area to the west of Lindford Road, where there is a cluster of older houses, and around Headley Mill, particular sensitivity is required.
• Traditional building materials, appropriate for the context within the village, should be the norm.
• As far as possible, the core of older dwellings should be retained among the large number of newer buildings. Any new development should be sympathetic to the character and context of these important buildings, and preserve their settings.

Sustainable Design

We are extremely concerned about the impact of new housing and feel very strongly that any new homes should be to the EcoHomes standards of the Building Research Establishment, with additional consideration being given to traffic, flora and fauna, potential flooding and infrastructure.  In this way, new houses would make as little impact as possible on the environment, which is especially important in view of global climate change.

• Every effort should be made to reduce the environmental impact of new development, by conserving energy, water and other resources. New development should incorporate energy conservation features into the design. Any new homes should be built to the EcoHomes standards of the Building Research Establishment.

Open Spaces and Rights of Way

Lindford is a very densely populated village and the footpaths and small open spaces are vital to many residents.

• The limited open space areas within the village, such as the Triangle, Pear Tree Green and Mimosa Green, must be protected, and their open, natural state should be carefully maintained. New development should respect the character and setting of these spaces, and the views to and from them.
• The layout and design of the Chase Road development must ensure that recreational facilities provided are accessible to residents of the village, and that the location of the open space is not detrimental to wildlife, such as the water voles and other users of the river.
• The layout and design of new development should take account of the need to protect the existing areas of nature conservation importance. Opportunities should be taken to extend accessible open space provision within the village with minimum harm to wildlife.
• Footpaths should be taken into account when developments are planned near to them. Several give access to the countryside, and their rural setting is important.
• The Washford Lane path should continue to be a path, not a road, in order to retain its rural character.

Maintenance of the Village Infrastructure

At the meetings called to prepare this document concern was expressed about a number of problems which Lindford shares with many other rural communities.

Increasingly people who can drive are reliant on their cars, and for those who are unable to drive there is increasing difficulty in gaining access to shops, doctors' surgeries and other facilities.  For everyone there are the problems associated with speeding traffic and road congestion. 

There is also a strong feeling that the appearance of the village is spoilt by the presence of large amounts of carelessly dropped litter.

Community Action Points

• More needs to be done to combat the problem of litter, which mars the appearance of the village and surrounding countryside. More action is required to maintain a clean and safe village environment.
• There is a strong desire to maintain our local shops, in particular by improving parking arrangements at Elmfield Court. The Post Office and general store is particularly important to many residents.
• Measures are required to reduce traffic speeds and ensure adequate parking. This would improve the appearance of the village, and help to create an environment which encourages the community to use the local shops and other facilities.
• Village signs, particularly along the Liphook Road, should be reviewed to see if it is possible to achieve a more integrated and less cluttered impression.

Design Guidelines

• The layout and design of any new retail development should consider the location of any parking spaces that are required and how they relate to the existing shops.
• New development should be designed so that it provides adequate parking and, where highway works are required, so that it discourages speeding traffic.

We hope that note will be taken of the comments recorded here, particularly in consideration of future planning applications. Planning should help to foster a sense of community. Lindford residents wish to maintain the special character of the village. We share many concerns, problems and opportunities with our larger neighbours, Headley and Whitehill, and are happy to co-operate with them, but Lindford is a distinct and separate community.