Proposals for 1,300 home development discussed
Developers quizzed over major homes plans
The most pressing questions on plans for 1,300 homes west of Tangmere have been put to developers at a virtual public briefing session.
Countryside Properties’ outline application is expected to be debated by Chichester District Council’s planning committee at the end of the month.
Thecompanyisactingasthe council’s development partner as the authority goes through thecompulsorypurchaseorder (CPO) process to unblock the strategic housing allocation.
Last Thursday, consultants working for Countryside were on hand to answer councillors’ questions at a virtual public briefing on subjects ranging from transport, to education, flooding and drainage.
The development site’s main access will be from the Temple Bar junction with the A27, with two secondary points from Tangmere Road to the south, one of which will require the construction of a new roundabout.
The application itself includes a new primary school, expanded village centre, public open spaces and extensive footpaths and cycleways.
Richard Burton, a director at Terence O’Rourke, explained how the development’s vision was to establish a single integrated community with the new properties having a ‘strong connection’ back to the village.
Proposals would encourage cycle and pedestrian movements, there would be a very strong tree canopy that would wrap around the development parcels and a series of open spaces the community ‘can come together in’.
The development would be split into four character areas: the village centre, countryside edge, the historic setting and the spine road.
Mr Burton said: “We want to make the existing village centre even more vibrant with new facilities.”
Questions on roads and transport dominated the twoand-a-half hour session, with Russell Henderson, from RPS, providingplentyofinformation to councillors.
He explained how the decision had been taken not to allow vehicular access to the development from Malcolm Road so the village centre area would be a space primarily for cyclists and pedestrians, but with some parking for the school and shops.
A 40mph speed limit would be sought on a stretch of Tangmere Road and if required traffic lights could be installed at three locations nearby, at the junction with Drayton Lane, and two points on the A285 where it meets both Roman Road and New Road.
Meanwhile the cycle route to the city would cross the A27 at Temple Bar and join up with the existing paths through Westhampnett and Maudlin.
The development would be making a ‘seven figure’ financial contribution to any Highways England work to upgrade other junctions on the A27.
Discussions were ongoing with West Sussex County Council about the delivery of the new school and the exact requirements for public transport, with the 55 bus serviceexpectedtobere-routed through the development.
Land would be safeguarded to allow for future expansion of the primary school in the event that the relocation of Tangmere Academy is pursued in the future.
On flooding and drainage, extensive geotechnical investigation was underway, with monitoring taking place this winter to check the ground water levels.
If outline permission is granted by councillors next month, ground and drainage works could start on site in late 2022, with build rates averaging about 144 homes per year, peaking at 2026 until the development’s completion in 2034.Thecompulsorypurchase order inquiry is expected to take place in May or June, with a decision from the Secretary of State then anticipated in November.