Barnham residents oppose plans for 200-home development: “It’s going to ruin all of our lives”

Residents in Barnham whose quiet street could become an access road for a new 200-home development have said the scheme would ruin their lives.
Residents in Marshall Close who are opposed to the proposalsResidents in Marshall Close who are opposed to the proposals
Residents in Marshall Close who are opposed to the proposals

Gleeson Strategic Land is seeking outline planning permission to develop land south of the railway station, to the west of Church Lane.

The development would be accessed by Marshall Close, where Sydnee Kalinski and her husband purchased their dream home in January.

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Mrs Kalinski, a nurse who described herself as ‘a farmer’s daughter’, said they were attracted to the fact the area was semi-rural, but with a good transport network.

Residents in Marshall Close who are opposed to the proposalsResidents in Marshall Close who are opposed to the proposals
Residents in Marshall Close who are opposed to the proposals

“It was perfect,” she said. “This was meant to be our forever home.”

But since finding out about the proposed development, she said: “Now I want to put a for sale sign up.”

She had checked the neighbourhood plan before moving to the area and said the development was not included in it.

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“Had it been in the plan, we wouldn’t have bought this place,” she said.

It was not only the prospect of traffic from the new development coming up and down their road, she said, but the fact that the proposed development site is mostly greenfield land.

“We should be protecting it, not cramming in houses,” she said.

“We are all desperately trying to do anything we can to stop this.

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“It’s going to ruin all of our lives. It’s causing so much stress and anxiety.”

The developer has argued that the scheme would help Arun meet its ‘severe’ housing shortfall, by providing new homes in a ‘highly sustainable location’.

In the planning statement, the developer said the adverse impact of the proposals would not outweigh the ‘significant range of benefits’ to the scheme, which include affordable homes, the provision of new open space and ecological enhancements, and economic benefits including job creation.

To comment on the plans visit www.arun.gov.uk/weekly-lists using code BN/142/20/OUT.

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