New housing estate south of station ‘would finalise massacre of Barnham’

Gleeson Strategic Land wants permission for the land to the west of Church Lane with access taken from Marshall Close.

It is mainly greenfields with a small cluster of buildings towards the centre of the site.

An outline planning application, submitted to Arun District Council, has already attracted letters of objection.

One wrote: “I imagine that I speak for many of Barnham’s residents when I say that this development is truly disgusting.

“Adding to the calamity that is the BEW [Barnham, Eastergate and Westergate] ‘masterplan’, this estate will only finalise the massacre on one of Barham’s largest open greenfields.”

They went on to point out how Barnham is a semi-rural village, but almost every single greenfield is being ‘threatened by reckless developers that have absolutely zero interest in what is good for both the current and future residents of the local area’.

As well as the impact on the character of the village, objectors main concerns were about traffic, flooding and drainage as well as the potential strain on other services and infrastructure.

One Marshall Close resident describes how taking access from their narrow road would ‘destroy the peaceful enjoyment’ of their homes.

Another said: “This ruthless money-making proposal is heartbreaking to all the local residents in both Church Lane and Marshall Close, we ask that this planning proposal is stopped.”

But the developer points to Arun’s housing supply shortfall and the site’s close proximity to the railway station as reasons why the application should be approved.

The development if approved would include a community park, pedestrian and cycle links, new allotments and a community orchard.

The scheme would provide 30 per cent affordable housing, equating to 60 units.

The cluster of existing outbuildings would be demolished to make way for the proposed new homes.

To comment on the plans visit www.arun.gov.uk/weekly-lists using code BN/142/20/OUT.