Plans to expand parking and build a new retail unit at Ferring Country Centre have been refused over concerns about traffic, flooding and the impact on trees and biodiversity.

The proposals included extending the existing car park to create 53 additional spaces and building a single-storey retail unit at the site in Rife Way, Ferring.

Arun District Council refused the application on Thursday, October 22, saying the applicant had not provided enough evidence to assess how the additional traffic would affect the surrounding road network.

It also raised concerns about drainage and said the plans did not show how surface water would be managed sustainably or that the development would not increase flood risk.

Plans to expand parking and build a new retail unit have been turned down. Image: Google via the LDRS

placeholder image — Plans to expand parking and build a new retail unit have been turned down. Image: Google via the LDRS

The application was also refused due to it not being able to demonstrate that it could achieve the 10 per cent biodiversity net gain or protect mature trees around the site.

The council said expanding the site was acceptable in principle and acknowledged that the proposals could increase parking capacity, therange of activities available to visitors and promote future employment.

However, it concluded that its concerns over highways, flooding, biodiversity and trees outweighed those benefits.

Ferring Parish Council objected to the application over the lack of detail provided, the amount of additional parking spaces and the impact on the public right of way.