Planning
Application

Over the coming years we are planning for the festival to grow back out of Downtown once again. To make this possible we are seeking to submit a temporary use planning application to continue hosting our annual theatre and music festival at the Matterley Estate.

Here you will find the latest updates on all things planning. Your input is invaluable, and we appreciate your support as we move through this important process.

Public Consultation

Our digital public consultation is now live. Here you have access to detailed information about our proposed plans - this includes information on ecology, sound and vibration, lighting, transport and access, site layouts, landscape and visuals, and more.

Following our public consultation we will review all feedback received and aim to submit a full planning application to the South Downs National Park Authority later this summer

We want to hear your thoughts - please take some time to read our public consultation material, your feedback can inform our plans so please tell us what you think.

Submit your Feedback

You can read our full consultation in magazine format here or you can dive into each section below!

Full Public Consultation

Proposals

About Boomtown

Ecology

Lighting

Transport and Access

Sound and vibration

Heritage

EIA

what are we applying for?

This summer we aim to submit a temporary use planning application in order to continue to host our beloved Boomtown once a calendar year at the Matterley Estate. We are seeking to increase the capacity of our festival from 2025 over a new three-year permission to 75,999 attendees (plus 1,000 on Sunday)

This application, if approved, would bring our planning permission capacity, granted by South Downs National Park Authority, in line with our current licensed capacity already granted by Winchester City Council.

Latest update

We’ve submitted a request for an EIA Scoping Opinion to the South Downs National Park Authority for Boomtown's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Read Scoping Report

What does this mean?

The Scoping Report outlines our vision for Boomtown, including our ambitions to increase capacity from 2025 over three years to 75,999 attendees, plus our additional 1000 Sunday community. It also dives into the potential environmental impacts associated with our event, because we're committed to protecting and respecting our planet. The report isn't set in stone; it's a living, breathing blueprint that will evolve through consultation with you, our local community and the wider public.

The EIA Scoping Report is an important step in ensuring a responsible and transparent development process. It involves a detailed assessment of potential environmental impacts across various areas, such as ecology, transport, sound, air quality and lighting.

The South Downs National Park Authority will review the EIA Scoping Report over a five week period and provide guidance on the development of the full EIA.

Timeline

April

24th April

Local residents meeting: The Flowerpots Inn, Cherinton

June

Request for an EIA Scoping Opinion Submitted to the South Downs National Park Authority

🖥️

24th June - Invite only

Digital Public Consultation - Boomtown Website

25th June

10:00 -13:00 & 14:00 - 19:00

Public Consultation Drop-In Sessions
Flowerpots Inn (Brandy Mount, Cheriton, New Alresford, Alresford SO24 0QQ)

26th June

10:00 - 16:00

Public Consultation Drop-In Sessions
Flowerpots Inn (Brandy Mount, Cheriton, New Alresford, Alresford SO24 0QQ)

🖥️

24th June - 9th July

Digital Public Consultation - Boomtown Website

July

🏘️

18th July

Local Residents Meeting - The Flowerpots Inn, Cheriton

August

🎪

7th - 12th August

Boomtown Chapter Three: Revolution of Imagination

September

🏘️

25th September

Local Residents Meeting - The Flowerpots Inn, Cheriton

in your words

If you think Boomtown is just a music festival here's some words from our audience that help you see it's a little bit more than that.

"Boomtown has earned its reputation as a standout event in Winchester, primarily due to its commitment to artistic expression and musical diversity."

Mya Kupfuwa 2

"When you’re here it makes all your worries go away and the vibe is just immaculate."

Vibes imamaculate

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Ea

"This year was my first time at boomtown and the only thing I’m upset about is how long it’s taken me to attend"

Hippy Highway

"Hats off to the organisers they done an amazing job and I absolutely can not wait to come back next year!"

"Absolutely unreal experience"

"Boomtown is a beacon of artistic expression, musical diversity and environmental stewardship. Its continued presence in the South Downs National Park not only enriches the cultural landscape of Winchester but also serves as a model for sustainable event management."

Mya Kupfuwa quote

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At Dolores Eius

"Hats off to the organisers they have done an amazing job and I absolutely can not wait to come back next year!"

Hats Off

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“I had lost my faith in humanity finishing university and since leaving the festival I feel like I have been given a second wind, a new outlook on life. Boomtown saved my life, I literally cried at the opening ceremony realising how far I had come.”

Lost Faith

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Pariatur Accusamus Ratione

"Boomtown's pledge to the environment articulates their commitment to avoiding fossil fuels and embracing sustainable alternatives, as well as their efforts to reuse old materials and make recycling easy through on site sorting."

Pledge

Background

Currently, we have planning permission to host 64,999 people with an extra 1000 Sunday tickets. This remains out of sync with our licensed capacity, set at 77,000, granted by Winchester City Council.

Back in January 2021, we made moves to increase our capacity to 75,999 attendees, with an additional 1,000 spots reserved just for our Sunday community. However, those hopes hit a snag. In December 2022, we withdrew this application following new information received in the Officer's Report to the South Downs National Park Authority Planning Committee. But, fear not we're back with a new application that has considered all of the feedback we were given within that report.