Compulsory purchase plans for Tangmere development site gets go ahead

Chichester councillors have voted to use compulsory purchase powers to buy the land needed to build up to 1,300 homes in Tangmere.
Masterplan for Tangmere Development SiteMasterplan for Tangmere Development Site
Masterplan for Tangmere Development Site

The land involved will make up the Tangmere Strategic Development Location, which forms a critical part of the council’s housing target.

At a meeting of the full council, Susan Taylor, cabinet member for planning, said the council had ‘no alternative’ but to go down the compulsory purchase order (CPO) route thanks to a lack of real progress in discussions with the three landowners.

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She added: “Although work is progressing on the CPO, there will continue to be engagement with the landowners to provide for the possibility of voluntary agreement to enable comprehensive development of the site.

“However, due to lack of progress with the owners and promoters of the site to date, the council is not satisfied that the landowners are willing and able to work together to deliver the comprehensive development of the Tangmere Strategic Development Location.”

The 76 hectare site has been earmarked for housing since 2010 and makes up 14 per cent of the housing need in the Local Plan.

That housing will be delivered by the council’s development partner Countryside Properties, with an outline planning application for 1,300 homes due to be submitted in October.

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The decision to use compulsory purchase powers was approved in March but the impact of Covid-19 brought the whole thing to a grinding halt and meant a new timetable had to be drawn up.

Now planning permission is expected to be given in March 2021, the Secretary of State will make a decision on the compulsory purchase in October 2021 and – if all goes to plan – building work will start in February 2023.

The development will include a primary school, sports space, a retail ‘high street’, and strong landscaping around key parts of the historic village.

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