Delight as proposals for green gap homes refused
Controversial proposals for more than 100 new homes in the ‘Angmering to Worthing Gap’ have been refused by planners.
A planning application by Rego Property Developments had proposed the construction of 112 dwellings at Highdown Vineyard in Ferring, which would have seen the demolition of existing structures on the site.
Ed Miller, secretary of Ferring Conservation Group and convenor of the ProGaps Alliance, previously described the plan as a ‘hammer blow’ to the thousands of Arun and Worthing residents who had been ‘desperately trying to defend our open spaces’ – especially the Green Gaps between Ferring, Kingston, East Preston, Angmering and Worthing.
Arun District Council has now refused the plans, listing a dozen reasons why the proposal should not go ahead, concluding that the benefits of the development ‘do not outweigh the harm caused’.
The decision notice read: “The proposal would result in a prominent and visually obtrusive form of development, which would adversely affect the visual amenities of the locality and rural character of the area.
“The development would be urban in character and therefore significantly and adversely change the character of the open countryside irrevocably.
“This urban character would fail to have regard to the special characteristics of the abutting South Downs National Park.
“The proposal would result in the loss of an employment-generating horticultural business with no appropriate relocation site provided nor any evidence to suggest that current use is unviable.”
Mr Miller said it was the ‘best conservation news we have had in Ferring this year’.
“We are absolutely delighted,” he said. “It’s the most important application so far this year and it's been refused. It's very important and it really secures the future of that green for Ferring and Worthing.
“This developer and others ought to know that Arun and Ferring will not stand for it.
"We already had 480 objections which is a very high number and just shows the strength of feeling in Ferring. We have got to conserve the best of what we've got.”