Whatever one’s views of the proposals, they were devised by Premier to enable the company to secure its future operations at the site by developing its facilities alongside limited housing, so boosting employment and preserving invaluable local expertise.

Those proposals were seemingly overwhelmingly supported by the local authority, Fareham District Council, which has longstanding experience in supporting the needs of the industry and well understands the revenue and employment benefits it provides.

The prevailing planning trend has been to discourage development of new facilities, often on specious grounds, and to disregard the benefits that they bring. Nationwide demand for waterside housing is insatiable.

Achieving a working balance between housing and business needs is increasingly difficult, but essential to the industries future.

All credit then to those involved here, who have recognised that mixed site development of this nature is key to preserving its waterside facilities for the future. Where I was brought up, there used to be three boatyards with associated trades, training and employment.

Economic factors and a disinterested, if not hostile, local authority, led to each yard's closure and subsequent development solely for housing. These sites are lost to the industry forever.

Change is inevitable, but it must be managed by those whom it affects, not distant politicians or pressure groups.

Premier, and the council, have made their views plain. We can only hope that these 'national policies', referred to by the Secretary Of State for Communities and Local Government, respect those views and not some daft bureaucratic or politically correct diktat.