Area 23 - The Causeway

 

 

 

 

Please let us have your views on this area summary by using the Comments form at the foot of this page.

 

Area contact - Philip Haines, to email CLICK HERE

 

You may also be interested in joining www.causewayfarm.com, and our local neighbourhood watch, from the same link.

 

Character Analysis
1. Location in Town

The Causeway forms the southern entrance to Petersfield, and brings the countryside almost to the heart of the Town, particularly on the east. Development is primarily strip residential, and infill, from the 30’s, although there are some older and newer houses. There are no shops or services until the northerly end of The Causeway where the Town Centre begins. There are a number of listed properties, and public footpaths.

2. Vistas/Views

Views abound from The Causeway. The South and West is dominated by the South Downs, The North by the Hangars, the Weald to the East, and there are plenty of opportunities to view them all along The Causeway. The views are complemented by an abundance of trees along The Causeway itself. Open fields, still farmed, are found for almost half of the eastern boundary of The Causeway from the Town boundary until The Broadway Caravan Park. Wildlife is abundant with frequent sightings of deer, badgers, and many varieties of birds. As The Causeway drops into Town the dominance over Petersfield of The Hangars can be clearly felt. The views can be seen best via The Hangars Way which runs down The Causeway before leaving it part way down, and running through Causeway Farm.

 

At the north end of The Causeway, just south of Hylton Road is an important, but neglected stream.

 

Although Petersfield has been excluded in the latest South Downs Park boundary proposals it should be noted that the new boundary  touches The Causeway at its south eastern end.

 
3. Landscaping

Most houses on The Causeway have generous front gardens which now have mature landscaped hedges and trees., and mainly laid to lawn, giving an open feel, and generally hiding parked cars.

 

There is an unsightly overhead power supply running the entire length of The Causeway.

 
4. Building Characteristics

The Causeway is primarily a residential area with a very few incursions of industrial use, retail and services. The density is right for the area, but would never be allowed under today’s guidelines. Most houses are two storey, but there are many loft conversions, and velux windows. Many are semi-detached, and have plenty of off-road parking. There are areas where houses have been built at the same time, with newer infill, giving a mix of design. Unfortunately, generally speaking, the newer the house the less well designed it is, although there are notable exceptions to this.
5. Building Materials
 The more mature buildings are generally built with better quality materials than the newer ones. This can be clearly seen in the use of concrete tiles rather than clay, or slate, in particular. The more mature houses are generally local brick with slate or clay tiles.  Some houses are rendered, and there are instances of older flint and stone construction.
6. Roofs

As mentioned roofs are primarily a mixture of slate or clay, with some newer houses having concrete tiles. The more mature houses have steep roofs which has given rise to many attic conversions. There is a pleasing mixture of types, angles and hips, as The Causeway descends into the Town.

7. Special Features & Landmarks

The openness and views from The Causeway are undoubtedly its biggest asset, and this is complemented by 3 listed buildings – The Grange Surgery, The Old Dairy and Causeway House. There is also a long distance footpath – Hangars Way, which runs along The Causeway and then through Causeway Farm.
8. Sustainability
 There are no signs of low energy measures and fixtures. Most of the houses would lend them selves to solar panels and small wind turbines could be hidden in lengthy back gardens.
9. Short summary description of area

The Causeway gives a welcoming entrance, and exit, to Petersfield. The constant views underline the situation of the Town between the South Downs and The Hangars. The residential nature of The Causeway with plenty of landscape assistance, complement the views.
10. Main issues and recommendations

Unfortunately all of the above cannot relieve The Causeway of being the area within Petersfield most under threat from development. Although the Local Inspector at the last Local Plan Inquiry was forthright in his views about protecting The Causeway, there are regular applications for residential and industrial use. Like most towns in Southern England almost all open land has been made available to developers on an option basis. Development must be contained and complement existing houses. There are some small areas of pre-developed land that could be developed without affecting the character of The Causeway.

 

Flooding – the stream at the north end of The Causeway is shown by the Environment Agency as its highest level of flood risk, and this should, in itslef preclude housing at Causeway Farm.

 

Traffic – there is a mixture of 30 and 40mph limits on The Causeway, and the 30mph iin particular is frequently ignored. Some form of traffic calming and pedestrian crossings need to be considered. The junction with Hylton Road, Dragon Street and Sussex Road is a hazard – consideration should be given to the re-instatement of a mini-roundabout. The cycle lanes are well intentioned, but ignored by cars and cyclists alike.

 

Overhead power cables – this old form of power distribution does not belong in the 21st century. Some residents, and developers, have paid to have these buried. They are unsightly and The Causeway would be improved if they were buried.

 

To quote from the Local Plan Inspectors report, and an East Hampshire Committee report, on proposed development at Causeway Farm, which was rejected “the area is characterised by superb views in virtually all directions and in these views the setting of the town between the South Downs and The Hangars is clearly apparent” Everything possible should be done to ensure that this is not compromised for future generations.

 

 

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