Chichester could be vulnerable to ‘speculative’ developments

The Chichester district could become vulnerable to ‘speculative’ housing developments when policies are deemed out of date from next month.
The Chichester district faces having to take far more housing development in the future. Pic by Steve RobardsThe Chichester district faces having to take far more housing development in the future. Pic by Steve Robards
The Chichester district faces having to take far more housing development in the future. Pic by Steve Robards

Back in 2015, Chichester District Council adopted its local plan with a housing target of 430 dwellings a year.

But it was told by a planning inspector to review this within five years and the deadline is July 15.

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However the council’s local plan review has been delayed and it faces moving to a higher annual housing target of 628 from next month.

According to offices without a five-year supply of housing this will leave the area ‘fairly vulnerable to speculative planning applications in locations and on sites that are not necessarily deemed to be appropriate’.

In the meantime the council is working on a draft interim housing policy and will launch a four-week public consultation on the document starting Friday June 12.

This will help guide development in the local plan area, which excludes the South Downs National Park, until the review is adopted.

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Members of the planning committee discussed the draft interim policy statement (IPS) on Wednesday (June 3).

Officers described the IPS as a method of articulating to parties how the council intends to remedy the supply situation and help guide proposals for acceptable development.

While in favour of the direction the council was taking, several members highlighted concerns about pushing too much for higher density developments.

Meanwhile both Graeme Barrett (Con, The Witterings) and Donna Johnson (Local Alliance, Sidlesham and Selsey North) raised specific concerns about infrastructure on the Manhood Peninsula.

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On the interim housing policy more specifically, Cllr Johnson added: “I think it’s a balancing act and it’s better to have something than nothing.”

Carol Purnell (Con, Sidlesham and Selsey North) explained that each application would still be judged on its own merits, but any document the council produced had to be ‘positive’.

She felt it would give developers a good idea of what would be acceptable ‘instead of trying to steamroller things through because we are in a weak position’.

In a statement Susan Taylor, cabinet member for planning, said: “The government requires all planning authorities to have a five year supply of land for housing.

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“By introducing an interim policy statement, we can control and shape the development of this much needed housing in the period leading up to the adoption of the local plan Review.

“We are encouraging residents and businesses across the district to share their views on the draft statement, which will go live on Friday 12 June and will run for four weeks until 10 July 2020.”

People will be able to view and comment on the draft statement by visiting www.chichester.gov.uk/letstalkplanning from June 12.

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