Largest housing parcel of Whitehouse Farm development approved

Developers already have outline permission for 750 homes at Whitehouse Farm, with a further 850 proposed in the second phase.

Miller Homes and Linden Homes are bringing forward a number of different parcels of land, with four reserved matters applications setting out detailed layout and designs totalling 334 homes already approved.

A fifth, by Miller Homes for 154 dwellings, was approved by Chichester District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday June 3.

Although the application was backed by the committee by 11 votes to one with one abstention, several speakers described the layout as ‘uninspiring’, iwht one councillor finding the design ‘a bit utilitarian’.

Officers suggested design is subjective and the scheme was consistent with the other approved parcels.

One of the other main talking points was the lack of connections from the parcel of land to Centurion Way immediately to the east.

Cyclists had suggested two potential links, one on the north east corner, and another to the south east.

However officers felt it was not appropriate or reasonable to require the developer to provide a link to Centurion Way in this particular application.

As a compromise Miller Homes has agreed to explore the possibility of a link further to the south when the next development parcel is brought forward.

Although this move was welcomed, some called for greater measures to improve ‘permeability’ in future applications.

Sarah Sharp (Green, Chichester South) said: “We have achieved this wonderful breakthrough, but we really do need to look at can we not deliver more.”

Rob Collett, associate planning director at Miller Homes, explained that the location had been chosen because it avoided any good quality trees having to be felled and at this point Centurion Way was at grade with the site.

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