New homes are backed in Barnham

MORE than 100 homes can be '¨built in Barnham.

A planning inspector has given the go-ahead to the outline scheme for 107 dwellings to replace glasshouses at the Eric Wall site on Lake Lane.

Isobel McCretton said in her decision reported to councillors yesterday: “There would be a benefit in terms of a contribution to the supply of housing in the district, including affordable housing, some improvement in local surface water drainage and the potential to encourage further investment in the horticultural business.

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“I have found that the encroachment into the countryside would not result in material harm to the character and appearance of the rural area.”

Eric Wall Holdings and Epitair had appealed against Arun District Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for their development last November.

The council said the scheme was outside the built-up boundary and would be a major encroachment into the countryside.

It also protested the legal agreements to pay for the public services used by the homes’ residents and to enable some of the housing to be developed as affordable had not been agreed.

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These were drawn up 
before the one-day inquiry 
was held in August.

Ms McCretton said Barnham was a sustainable village and the location was also sustainable.

She acknowledged the concerns of residents about the traffic generated by the proposed housing and its potential to add to bottlenecks on Lake Lane caused by parked cars.

But she said the highway authority had not objected to the housing provided some conditions for highway safety were met.

“The highway authority has the power to introduce parking controls along Lake Lane in the event that traffic is unduly disrupted by indiscriminate parking,” she stated.