Decision due on large Fontwell housing development

Developers were granted outline planning permission for up to 400 dwellings and business floor space on land east of the A29 opposite Fontwell Park on appeal by a planning inspector back in 2017.

Now a reserved matters application for the homes, retail and community space is due to be discussed by Arun District Council’s development control committee next Wednesday (June 24).

Officers are recommending refusal.

A separate application has been submitted for the light industrial business units.

Of the 400 homes, 30 per cent would be classed as affordable.

These would be split into 59 intermediate/starter homes and 61 for affordable rent.

The development’s layout feature 4.5 hectares of open space including allotments, an orchard, wildflower meadow, paddocks, equipped play area and multi-use games area in the north-eastern part of the site.

A retail unit would be built on the north side of an arrival avenue, with a community building to the north of the site next to Arundel Road.

This includes the conversion of the old smithy, or bottle store, which is designated as a building of special character in the Walberton neighbourhood plan.

However offices feel the proposed development ‘does not constitute a high standard of design in the appearance of the buildings, outdoor amenity space for the dwellings and the landscaping of the site’.

They also argue the parking provision is not adequate, with insufficient information about how bin collection lorries would be accommodated on the site, or how the development seeks to reduce carbon emissions and energy use.

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.