More housing planned for Barnham

An outline plan for the housing on 3.1ha of farmland north of Yapton Road and east of Garden Crescent has been submitted to Arun District Council.

Welbeck Strategic Land wants to establish the principle of development.

Its planning agent, Graham Beck, of Luken Beck, says in a statement: “Due regard has been given to the constraints and opportunities presented by the site and the surrounding area.

“Up to 44 dwellings can be provided, to include 30 per cent affordable, within a high quality environment, enhanced by the retention and protection of existing trees and provision of new tree and hedgerow planting that will also increase the biodiversity of the area.

“The application has been the subject of a public consultation and has taken into account important issues raised.”

The consultation took place at an exhibition last January.

It was attended by 40 people.

The overall response among the 24 comment sheets returned was opposition.

The main points of concern were the surface water and foul drainage, traffic impact, lack of infrastructure and presence of other new developments.

But some support was given. The site was seen as better than others in the village because of its design, layout and woodland proposals.

The proposed housing will be a mix of 2-4 bed houses in a layout of terraced, semi-detached and detached properties.

Their height will be limited to two storeys to ensure they blend in with the existing surrounding properties.

Back to back or back to front distances from those properties facing on to Scholar’s Row and Garden Crescent would be maximised to prevent overlooking and maintain privacy, Luken Beck has pledged.

An active bat roost within the southern woodland would be protected in the scheme and the existing woodland enhanced for foraging purposes.