Developer knocked back again in bid to build 225 homes

Resubmitted plans for 225 homesinWestBerstedhavebeen rejected again by Arun District Council.

Landform’s first outline application for the homes, open space and vehicular and pedestrian access for nursery fields, to the north of Chalcraft

Lane and behind Chalcroft Nursery, was turned down in April.

Officers said the developer had failed to demonstrate there wouldnotbea‘severecumulative residual impact on the road network’.Therewasnotransport assessmenttoaddresstheoff-site capacity requirements and the local road network and a failure todemonstratethatthetransport effects could be ‘satisfactorily mitigated’.

The application also failed to sufficiently encourage the use of sustainable modes of transport.

The developer is appealing against this decision but in the meantime resubmitted plans to provide the council with the ‘opportunity to reconsider its position’. It said the application documents had been amended to include provisions relating to afutureconnectiontolandtothe north.

Back in 2018 Arun’s 20-year local plan included the West Bersted strategic allocation for at least 2,500 homes. Meanwhile an application for 20 homes and commercial space on the nursery site itself has already been approved.

But officers have turned downLandform’ssecondoutline application. They said the main issue centred around the site failing to make a contribution towards the spine road for the wider strategic allocation. The applicants have now offered a contribution,butofficersdidnot consider it adequate.