Butlin's given the green light for improvements

Members of Arun District Council’s development and control committee agreed to the local development order which will allow the holiday company to make minor changes to its site without the need to seek planning permission.

Councillors made no comment when the item was put before them last Wednesday.

Cian Cronin, Arun’s planning officer for the Butlin’s resort, had recommended the committee approve the order. He said an eight-week public consultation had taken place with two exhibitions, and information had also been published on Arun’s website and on public noticeboards.

He said: “There were 13 visitors to the exhibitions which resulted in four responses.

“One each from Bognor Regis and Felpham councils, one from a member of the public and another from the district.”

Mr Cronin said the majority of concerns raised were about how the order would be policed. In reponse to that, a number of changes had been made.

“I have suggested a number measures are taken to ensure transparency,” he said.

Changes would limit any funfair structures to those which were permitted in the lease for the land which Butlin’s rents from the council.

The local development order will be the first in the Arun district.

Such freedom from red tape is a government idea to ease restrictions on businesses.

Among the works which will be covered by the order are new small buildings such as kiosks and the installation of solar panels. They can be only a single-storey height.

The order will not cover development within 20m of the site’s boundary, new staff or guest accommodation, hotels and swimming pools.

These will still require planning approval.

The order will now be sent to the secretary of state to be signed off. When this is done, the order will be put in place as soon as practicable after September 1.