Appeal launched against refusal of Pagham homes on pocket of green space

The pocket of green land in Manor Park, Pagham (Photo from Google Maps Street View)The pocket of green land in Manor Park, Pagham (Photo from Google Maps Street View)
The pocket of green land in Manor Park, Pagham (Photo from Google Maps Street View)
A decision to refuse four new Pagham homes has been challenged by the developer at appeal.

Arun District Council turned down planning permission for the terraced homes on highway land off Manor Park behind the football ground.

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The land is currently controlled by West Sussex County Council under a road adoption agreement.

But the application, on behalf of the freeholder, says that if permission were granted it would then apply for a stopping up order to extinguish the adopted status.

The developer argues the site, which is grassed along with some trees, ‘is not currently required as highway land’.

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The council was bombarded with objections as residents felt the green space should be protected and raised issues such as flooding, parking as well as the impact on services and infrastructure.

Arun refused permission in May last year, with officers arguing the proposals resulted in the loss of pleasant open space and felt the ‘cramped’ scheme was an overdevelopment of the site.

Their report said: “It is felt the proposal would lead to overdevelopment of the site, resulting in a cramped appearance and result in the loss of a pleasant open space which is important for the character of the area and for the visual and amenity value it provides for existing nearby residents.”

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The developers have appealed to the planning inspectorate against Arun’s decision to refuse the scheme.

In its appeal statement, the applicant said: “The proposed development would make efficient use of a sustainably located site and make a positive contribution to housing within the district and provide clear economic, social and environmental benefits.

“For the above reasons, the proposal is considered to represent a sustainable form of development and therefore should be supported.”

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Opponents of the scheme are asking people who objected to the planning application to contact the planning inspectorate saying they stand by their original objection and thank the council case officer for refusing the scheme.

Representations can be made online by using the case reference code 3261859.

The deadline is Wednesday January 20.