Legality versus morality...
Some not living on the Man hood Peninsula, Chichester, West Sussex may wonder why so many residents in the Witterings, Bracklesham Bay and Earnley are so concerned about a proposed phase one development for 70 houses in Church Road, West Wittering.
It may seem innocuous but this is a watershed moment for the area as this development will destroy the delineation between the villages and the current rural landscape which is part of the character of the area and which the many visitors to the area enjoy.
It will open up the area to phase two – a further 150 homes, on Grade II arable land, a total of 220 homes.
CDC refused the planning application on July 1, 2021 and the week-long planning appeal closed March 8.
The appellant is Welbeck Strategic Land IV LLP. Looking at the Apellant’s title readers may think it is a developer but it is not.
This is a company incorporated in April 2018 and is wholly owned by Nottinghamshire County Council through its Pension Fund. The stated activities are: “The principal activity of Welbeck Strategic Land 1V LLP is the promotion of land through the planning system for predominantly residential development in the South of England.”
Basically this is a company that promotes potential development sites in the South of England to obtain planning permission for development sites. This is a very targeted approach to an area that is seen as most desirable to live which is reflected in a strong housing market, including many second homes.
The company is based in London, the website is www. welbeckland.co.uk and those who have attended the appeal will have seen some of the main staff and partners who have been presenting the company’s case. .
Local authority pension funds invest to provide the best returns to pay their retirees their pensions and in doing so they spread their investments across a range of options, shares, deposits, corporate bonds, land etc. and companies promoting planning applications for development.
While that is permitted, spare a thought to the morality and probity of a council in one part of the country investing public money (ie council taxpayers’ funds) in a company that promotes developments sites in another part of the country.
In this situation it pits one Conservative Council against another. One council wins financially while the other loses (and if it comes to an appeal as in this case and it is lost Chichester taxpayers may well end up paying for the whole of the costs of the appeal – including the barrister, a Queen’s Counsel).
Put simply it may be legal but is it moral? This is yet another shameful example of a deeply flawed planning system which has nothing to commend it but much to condemn it and where profit and gain are the main determinants.
LOUISE GOLDSMITH Former leader of West Sussex County Council, Shipton Green, Itchenor