Extra homes on outskirts of Chichester approved

Revised plans for 143 Oving homes just east of Chichester have been approved.
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Redrow Homes has already started building on land south of Oving Road just off the A27 after receiving permission for 100 homes on appeal back in 2017.

The developer came back with revised plans for 143 homes, but these were refused by Chichester District Council officers in June last year.

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An appeal has been lodged with the planning inspectorate against this decision, but in the meantime Redrow submitted revised plans, still for 143 homes, but with changes looking to overcome the council’s reasons for refusal.

Aerial view of development site with construction already underway in the north-east cornerAerial view of development site with construction already underway in the north-east corner
Aerial view of development site with construction already underway in the north-east corner

This was approved by the council’s planning committee today (Wednesday March 31).

While it was acknowledged the extra units would contribute towards the district’s housing shortfall, there were lingering concerns about wastewater disposal and the positioning of affordable units near the noisy A27.

Officers explained that a cycle and pedestrian link in the north-west corner had been agreed, while solar panels and electric vehicle charging points had been added into the scheme.

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Craige Burden, head of planning for Redrow Southern Counties, felt the new plans would make ‘best use of an already committed development site’.

Simon Oakley (Con, North Mundham and Tangmere) felt 143 dwellings was a ‘reasonable use’ of this parcel of land and welcomed the designs as ‘quite a contrast’ to those at the nearby Shopwyke Lakes development.

However,  he did raise questions about wastewater sewage capacity, a common theme in the meeting.

Officers explained how an agreement had been reached with Cala Homes to use the pumping station within its development.

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Mr Oakley described a ‘lack of clarity and assurance’ about the whole wastewater movement stream that needed to be addressed outside the determination of the application.

The other main issue was the location of some of the affordable housing on the western boundary nearest to the A27.

Gordon McAra (Ind, Midhurst) felt the affordable homes were being used as a noise barrier for the rest of the development and although not going as far as calling them ‘peasant cottages’, he added: “It makes a statement and I don’t think it’s a good statement.”

Meanwhile Sarah Sharp (Green, Chichester South) asked about integrated transport and what access to bus services new residents would have.

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Officers explained that as part of the local plan review additional land east of this application site could be allocated, which could provide additional integrated sustainable transport solutions, while the Shopwyke Lakes development spine road had bus stops and services running up and down it.

The application was approved by nine votes to four.

It was expected that in the event the 143 homes were approved the pending appeal would be withdrawn, while a revocation order would be sought on the first permission for 100 homes.

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