Revised plans for care home at former Middleton poultry farm

Pictured in February, Middleton-on-Sea residents against development plans for the former poultry farm. Photo by Derek Martin Photography SUS-201102-133024008

Arun District Council turned down an application for the 66-bed facility off Yapton Road back in February, with the developer then appealing against the decision to the planning inspectorate.

However before the appeal has been heard, Frontier Estates has submitted a fresh application, which it says reduces the scale and density of the proposals and its perceived impact on trees.

According to the developer a lower building has been designed by rationalising space within the development and introducing a part-basement level.

Revised plans for a care home in Middleton

The application says: “This decrease in the height of the scheme would reduce its visibility and we hope will address concerns raised by the council relating to the scale of the development.”

The second reason for refusal was due to the proposed access resulting in damage to protected Ash trees.

However the developer argues that an application for 13 homes with the same access arrangements from Silver Birch Drive has already been approved on the same site.

If permission for a care home is not secured, then the homes will be built instead.

The applicant has also submitted an arboricultural report, which it argues shows the care home scheme would cause no damage to the trees in question.

Back in February, the development control committee refused the application by nine votes to five against the advice from officers.

Objectors also argued the care home would be out of character with the site and the surrounding properties.

Just after the care home plans were turned down, a demolition team arrived on site with the three-year permission for the original 13-home scheme, granted in 2017, about to expire.

The workers were greeted by a group of peaceful protestors, who were concerned developers were about to start knocking down the derelict farm buildings without fully complying with conditions imposed when the original permission was granted.

To comment visit www.arun.gov.uk/weekly-lists using code M/68/20/PL.

Talk is increasing of further lockdowns in the UK. What do you think of the situation? Join the Big Conversation and have your say on everything from healthcare to how the pandemic has affected you personally and how we make our communities stronger.