West Bersted masterplan is endorsed by councillors

Members of Arun District Council’s Development Control Committee considered the plan for the site, which has been earmarked for at least 2,500 new homes, at a meeting in September.

The 2018 local plan allocated the land for development, to include homes as well as other infrastructure such as a new primary school, community facilities, public open space, sports and retail provision.

Councillors at the online meeting were told that the masterplan’s purpose was to provide a general layout for the development – not to include details around design nor about how infrastructure would be provided.

But many councillors raised concerns about whether the required infrastructure would be delivered.

Councillor David Edwards said that while the site was supposed to include a surgery and a school, neither of these would be built by the developer.

Pointing to other developments in the area which were still awaiting these facilities, he said: “We have to take a stand at some point in order to make these things happen.”

Councillor Martin Lury echoed his concerns and said: “We have to seriously push for a health facility at this site.”

Councillor June Hamilton said she was ‘very worried’ about the site.

She said 2,500 homes was ‘a huge number of housing’ which would likely add 10,000 residents to the district, and asked: “Are we building the slums of tomorrow?

“The infrastructure is dire there, medical and dental care hardly exist, doctors have closed lists and traffic is dire.”

Public transport was also poor and the ‘worst thing’ was the flooding, she added.

But councillor Terence Chapman urged councillors to endorse the masterplan, telling them it would allow them to get to the next stage, which would involve establishing how these issues could be overcome.

Planning officer James Cross said the issues of delivery would continue to be discussed with the advisory groups.

“I want to reassure members it’s not the final point in the process, it’s very much the start of the process,” he said.

The masterplan was endorsed with 13 councillors voting in favour and one abstention.

To find out more about the masterplan, visit www.westberstedconsultation.co.uk