Fresh bid for 77 homes at Birdham nurseries

Last year a planning application to build 84 homes on Koolbergen and Kelly’s Nurseries and Bellfield Nurseries was rejected by Chichester District Council.

Now a fresh outline planning application for 77 houses, plus retail and open space, has been submitted for the same site in Bell Lane.

Two separate developments in Bell Lane already have approval; the 30 homes at the nearby Tawny Nursery are currently under construction, while another 25 homes will also be built at Rowan Nurseries.

The application has been submitted by Mr and Mrs P Knappett, according to the design and access statement, which states: “In the consideration of the earlier application it was refused on grounds of form and layout on the edge of the site affecting the adjoining surrounding area.

“In looking at the layout of the development we have sought to address this matter in the context of the surrounding area and the format of the relationship of development to the rural area.

“We have also considered the format of the urban edge within Birdham as well.

“We have also looked at the development permitted at the adjoining site of Rowan Nursery and the acceptable relationship of that site to the adjoining.

“In addition we have also referred to the provision of screen planting to be retained albeit that is not all within but on the boundary to this site on the west side.

“Finally I would also remind all concerned that this is only an outline application to secure the principle of development with only the means of access to the site before the council and as a consequence the actual details of the layout of the site will follow in a subsequent reserved matters application.”

Birdham Parish Council opposed the previous application for 84 homes on the site, where Kelly’s Nurseries currently operated selling mostly bedding plants.

Chairman Laurie Pocock said: “Our planning committee will consider this application when we meet on April 18, but when a similar scheme came forward we rejected it because it went against our neighbourhood plan.

“Chichester District Council has approved our plan, that’s the reason they threw it out before it got to committee.”

In total more than 80 homes have already been given planning approval around Birdham, despite the fact that the district council’s local plan allocates 50 for the village.

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