Felpham housing may grow by 10%

Cllr Paul English said proposals being put forward by housebuilder Barratt indicated the size of the scheme could rise further.

'The possibility of the 700 units approved in the consent being increased by 10pc, thus increasing the strain on an already stressed infrastructure does give us great concern and will probably be the topic of much debate,' said Cllr English.

These extra 70 homes could be achieved by boosting the density of properties on the large site.

Felpham Parish Council chairman Cllr English said packing the properties in more tightly than originally proposed would put the new development at odds with much of the parish's existing housing.

'The suggested increase in the density over the majority of the site from a pleasant 35 per hectare to 42 per hectare we would consider to be out of keeping with most housing in Felpham,' he stated.

'Contrary to the outline planning application, we note that three storey properties are being considered.

'We will be watching for this to be rectified as the plans progress.'

Another issue about which the parish council was unhappy following the exhibition was the suggestion that the earth bunds beside the Bognor Regis northern relief road, which will form part of the development, could be substituted for another system '“ possibly 8ft high fencing.

Cllr English said: 'This, in our opinion, would not create the same noise reduction as the bunds nor would it retain the very pleasant rural style that we enjoy in Felpham. It may well give the appearance of an encampment.'

As the Observer reported, hundreds of villagers turned out to view last Wednesday's exhibition by Barratt and its subsidiary, David Wilson Homes.

The companies recently bought the 133 acre site after outline planning permission for the development, along with a related 650 homes in North Bersted and the relief road, was given by the government last November.

The display was the first chance that people who live in the area had been given to view the preliminary layouts proposed by Barratt.

Cllr English, who is also an Arun District Council member for Felpham East, said the developers should be applauded for putting their ideas on show so quickly.

The layouts indicated a well spread mix of styles throughout the new estate, which will start to be built from the eastern end.

Planning applications to cover the detailed issues on the development are set to be submitted by Barratt to the district council in about two months. Work on the ground is likely to start during this winter.