Fontwell homes rejected as site may be needed for travellers

The outline plans were for 21 dwellings, of which 13 would be social housing, on land between the A27 and West Walberton Lane. Two business units would complete the intended development.

Arun District Council has rejected the mix of two-storey houses, flats and bungalows for seven reasons.

One of them is the inclusion of the land in the council's gypsy, traveller and travelling showpeople sites study.

This has been the subject of public consultation and will form the basis for specific sites to be allocated under Arun's land use policies by councillors.

Council planning officer Susan Leeson said: "Accordingly, the granting of planning permission for use of this site could potentially prejudice the council's longer-term aims of delivering suitable permanent sites to meet the identified needs of gypsies and travellers within the district for the period to 2016, and would be premature at this time."

Her other reasons for refusal included the location of the site in a rural area, the lack of evidence of an overriding need for the homes, their impact on the Walberton area and the lack of sustainability.

Walberton Parish Council had objected to the scheme on the grounds the scheme was outside the built-up area boundary.

Fourteen letters of objection were also received by Arun along with three letters of support.

The applicants, K and A Poland of Littlehampton, told Arun they were prepared to enter a legal agreement to enable 13 of the proposed homes to be affordable dwellings.

This was well over the council's standard of five homes for a development of the size proposed and would provide more than half the Walberton area's current need for such housing.

Arun's housing register last May included 25 households from the parish.

A statement with the application said: "Local housing associations recognise the need for affordable housing in the area and are keen to fulfil their mandate to address this.

"It would be possible for some of the units to be allocated to the Rural Housing Trust to remove the right to buy and ensure availability for generations to come."

Walberton Parish Council clerk Ray Huskisson said: "The parish council is concerned the site could be used for travellers and lodged an objection as did local residents.

"I can't see the site being developed in the foreseeable future. It's just woodland and has no services."

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