Plans for 1,500 more homes in North Bersted casts new fears

The 186 individuals went along to the display staged by the Church Commissioners at the Regis Centre last Fridayand Saturday about its plans for up to 1,500 homes.

These would be built '“ along with employment space and facilities such as a doctor's surgery '“ on 125 hectares of farmland north of Chalcraft Lane.

Work is unlikely to start for at least five years. It would be dependent on several approvals being granted.

Another aspect of the scheme would be a road to link Chalcraft Lane with the A259. Its route would arc between the Chalcraft Lane/Lower Bognor Road roundabout and Chichester Road almost opposite Babsham Lane.

It would complete the relief road network around central Bognor Regis.

The Church Commissioners own about two-thirds of the site. The next biggest landowner is Langmead Farms, with several smaller parcels of land owned by different individuals.

Bersted Parish Council chairman Cllr Brian Knight said: "I'm sure I can speak for the council by saying we are totally against this scheme. We have taken enough development in our area. We've had our share.

"Yet again, this is grade one farmland which is being lost for housing. Every bit of concrete which is put down just drives the rain elsewhere to cause problems.

"All these relief roads are doing is putting traffic onto the A259 that much quicker than now.

"But, once the traffic gets to Drayton or up to the Chichester bypass, it's still stymied."

Aldwick resident Charlotte Buckley (17) said: "I don't want more housing in North Bersted. There is too much housing and not enough work for everyone.

"The roads will get too busy. It's just ridiculous."

But Roger Parham (61), who is about to move to Newbarn Lane from Bognor, said: "I don't mind new housing if it's tastefully done. I don't mind people building as many houses as they like as long as it's not done in parallel rows.

"You need some green areas among it like you have at West Meads.

"There's a place for light industry in a scheme like this. You want somewhere for young people to come in and get work."

The housing site, formally known as 'north-west Bognor', was put forward by Arun District Council last August as its preferred location for housing west of the River Arun.

But the decision was overshadowed by the prospect of even more housing needing to be built and the Ford eco-town proposals. No further action has yet been taken on 'north-west Bognor'.

Steve Melligan, the Church Commisioners' head of planning and development, said the site offered the best deal for Bognor's regeneration by providing extra residents next to the existing built up area to provide customers for shops and leisure businesses.

"Our concern with the eco-town is that it could have the opposite effect on Bognor. It could degenerate rather than regenerate," he stated.

"I envisage the work as following on from site six and being several years away.

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It is likely to be at least five to ten years before work starts on the site.

"One of the main factors would be to complete the relief road.

"We think the relief road as it will be done at the moment '“ through North Bersted and Felpham '“ is only part of the job.

"We want to take all the traffic off the A259 in the central area."

The exhibition also contained details about St Modwen's plans for Bognor town centre and seafront, a new Bognor Regis Community College and improvements at the local campus of the University of Chichester.

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