Plans for a former farm shop in Ferring, a footpath closure due to a collapsed bridge and a nursery outbuilding are among recent applications and notifications on the Public Notice Portal.

• The owners of a former farm shop in Ferring are seeking permission for change of use back to agriculture, with a flexible option for commercial, business and service use.

Roundstone Farm Shop and Garden centre moved to Hillview Business Park earlier this year, leaving the former site in Littlehampton Road vacant.

Ham Manor Farms has now applied to Arun District Council for planning permission for change of use of the buildings and canopies from shop and café to a flexible use of agriculture or Class E.

Roundstone Farm Shop relocated earlier this year and plans for the former site have now been submitted

placeholder image — Roundstone Farm Shop relocated earlier this year and plans for the former site have now been submitted

This would include any other services appropriate in a commercial, service and business locality, medical services and non-residential creche uses.

In the planning, design and access statement, agent Elizabeth Lawrence explains the background. The shop was originally used solely for agricultural purposes until 1988, when permission was granted for conversion to a farm shop.

At first, the shop could sell only farm produce but in 2014 permission was granted for a café in one of the buildings and in 2017, the sales condition for the shop was removed.

The statement says: “Since then, the shop and café struggled to remain viable. They have now closed and are unoccupied. The applicants are now looking to revert the building back to their original agricultural use and Arun District Council has advised them that this requires full planning permission for change of use.”

Retrospective planning permission is sought by Pumpkin Patch Nursery for a garden outbuilding

The proposal is to return the building to agricultural use, with the added flexibility of using the building for any of the specified Class E activities.

These could include the display or retail sale of goods other than hot food, the sale of food and drink for consumption on the premises, financial services, professional services, medical or health services, a day nursery or day centre, and an office.

The plans do not involve any external or internal changes to the buildings.

• Retrospective planning permission is sought by Pumpkin Patch Nursery for a garden outbuilding at the Footprints Children And Family Centre site in Crescent Road, Worthing.

A public footpath in Burpham has been closed following the collapse of a bridge used by walkers. Picture: Google Maps

The detached Victorian property has operated as a children's day centre or day nursery for approximately 20 years and was previously run by West Sussex County Council.

The planning statement submitted by Simon Boseley Architectural Design states there was previously a small timber hut in the south-west corner of the garden and the applicant proceeded with the new building on the understanding it represented a replacement of this structure.

Having been informed by Worthing Borough Council that the new building is not strictly a like-for-like replacement, the nursery now seeks retrospective planning permission for a single-storey outbuilding.

The outbuilding provides a sheltered quiet and sensory space for the children, accessed only from the garden.

• A public footpath in Burpham has been closed following the collapse of a bridge used by walkers.

West Sussex County Council has made a Temporary Closure Order for Public Footpath 2238 in Burpham.

The closure came into effect on May 21 and will remain in force for up to six months, or until repairs to the footbridge are completed, whichever is earlier.

The section affected runs alongside the River Arun from the junction with Public Footpath 2267_2 at the South Stoke Loop, westwards for 685m.

The council said: “The closure of this route is needed to maintain public safety following the collapse of a footbridge. Unfortunately, during the operative period of this order, no alternative route is available via the public rights of way network.”

• An East Preston road has been closed while maintenance to water mains is carried out.

West Sussex County Council has made a Temporary Closure Order for Chiltern Close throughout its entire length to maintain safety.

The order came into effect on June 1 and will remain in force until June 12, or until the proposed works are completed.

Access to properties on the affected length of road will be maintained at all times.

• Permission is sought for internal alterations to a Georgian terraced property dating back to 1806.

The work planned at 9 Warwick Road, Worthing, would include replacing the ground to basement staircase, removing the wall between the dining area and hallway at ground floor, and installing a mist system, as a fire suppressing measure.

A new side window at basement level and first-floor conservatory are also included.

The application states the existing staircase is not original and too steep, with narrow treads. The new staircase proposed would match the style of the existing ground-floor staircase.

• You can keep up to date with all the latest information on planning proposals, traffic notices, goods vehicle operator licences, premises licensing, licences to sell alcohol and probate notices in your area at publicnoticeportal.uk