North Bersted's eco quarter plan takes shape

The formal proposals to cover 2,500 homes, land for thousands of jobs and community facilities north of Chalcraft Lane are being prepared ready for submission within the next six months.

This was revealed after the major landowner, the Church Commissioners, held the first consultation event to gain the views of local representatives about the scheme.

Dubbed the Bognor Regis eco quarter, it is intended to be a sustainable development by combining homes and jobs on the edge of the existing urban area linked by regular bus services.

Councillors and business representatives were among the 14 people who went along to last Thursday's forum held by consultation specialists, Green Issues Communication, at the Jubilee Community Centre in Chalcraft Lane.

Their views will help to shape the masterplan which will form the basis of the planning application.

Topics discussed at the session included the community facilities to be featured on and off the site; sustainability and the environment, traffic and transport initiatives and ways of ensuring the proposed development helps the regeneration of Bognor.

A report on the comments made will be placed online by Green Issues Communication.

James Garland, from the firm, said: "It was great to get input from so many stakeholders at the forum.

"A number of really interesting ideas were discussed, such as including provision for onsite food production and the creation of a wetlands area for wildlife.

"There were also some good ideas relating to initiatives to encourage high quality employment on the site and incorporate this into the proposals for innovative 'green' technology."

Further consultation will take the form of a public exhibition in early March. Details of the event are being finalised.

Steve Melligan, the Church Commissioners' head of planning and development, said: "We have instructed sustainability experts, BioRegional Quintain, to advise us on the environmental aspects of the proposals.

"We are confident that, by also incorporating the views of local stakeholders and residents, we can create a scheme that is not only innovative and exciting but that also meets the needs of the community."

Pooran Desai OBE, of BioRegional Quintain, attended the forum to explain the role of this company in shaping the proposals.

He answered questions from those present about measures that could be included to ensure the development was as sustainable as possible.

The Bognor Regis eco quarter is intended to have 1,500 homes initially, with scope for a further 1,000 properties after 2026.

There will be enough land set aside for one job for every one of the homes which are built. Space will also be set aside for a primary school. The overall development will cover 125 hectares of farmland.

Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb has condemned the plans as vandalism which would damage the beauty of the environment for ever.

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP