Two Yapton developments totalling 550 homes given thumbs up

Two Yapton developments totalling 550 new homes have both been given the go-ahead by councillors.
Bilsham Road 250 homes planned for YaptonBilsham Road 250 homes planned for Yapton
Bilsham Road 250 homes planned for Yapton

Gleeson Strategic Land is seeking permission for 250 homes west of Bilsham Road, while Landlink Estates has submitted a scheme for 300 homes on another parcel of land east of Drove Lane.

The two developments abut each other and were both approved unanimously by Arun District Council’s development control committee on Wednesday (January 23).

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Both schemes have received more than 100 letters of objection from residents raising concerns about sustainability, impact on roads and infrastructure as well as the loss of green space and countryside.

Drove Lane 300 homes planned for YaptonDrove Lane 300 homes planned for Yapton
Drove Lane 300 homes planned for Yapton

Just before the second application was approved one member of the public shouted from the gallery: “What a joke.”

Stephen Haymes (Con, Yapton) said he was aware of people’s feelings about the applications with people not wanting the village to be overtaken by large developments.

But since the land was included as a strategic site within the Arun local plan he suggested development ‘is inevitable’.

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He added: “Although these applications are not universally popular they meet the requirements for Arun’s housing as dictated by the local plan and provide 150 units of much needed affordable housing.”

He welcomed plans to invest in the existing primary school rather than building a second one as well as proposals for a cycle route between Yapton and Barnham.

Although backing junction improvements he argued that works to Comet Corner should take priority over those planned for the Oystercatcher.

Meanwhile on health care his preference was for a new medical facility as part of the strategic housing allocation at Ford.

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Colin Oliver-Redgate (Con, Ferring) added: “It’s very sensitive and nicely planned out.”

Adam Ross, speaking on behalf of Gleeson, described how although the applications are separate the two schemes had been designed in a cohesive way, with a large area of open space in the middle of the two parcels of land.

Paul Hanson, chief executive of Landlink Estates, suggested the schemes once finished would become a ‘much-loved part of Yapton that will enhance and compliment the village’.