Residents win fight to halthomes plan

The campaigners have been backed by Arun District Council in opposing the plans for the Yapton Industrial Estate.

Council planning officer Jonathan Parsons has ruled developer Gladedale Group should not be allowed to put 59 houses on the Bilsham Road site. Nearby resident Andrew Knight said: 'I am pleased about the council's decision.

'It's the right decision to make. There was a lot of strong public opinion regarding this site.

'There were serious concerns about developing it.'

But he warned he believed the fight was not yet over.

'I am under no illusions about what is going to happen next. Gladedale are a big company who are going to want to continue to develop that land.'

A firm was on the potential development site taking soil samples the day he heard about the plans' refusal, he added.

Gladedale revealed its plans last April. The company wanted to buld 24 two-bedroom houses, 23 three-bedroom houses and 12 four-bedroom houses on 1.7 hectares.

Its intention was to sweep away the business units which make up the industrial estate by The Lamb pub. Several dozen people work there.

Mr Parsons said the site should be protected to provide those job opportunities.

Sufficient employment land had to be provided around the district to enable economic growth to take place.

He also gave eight other reasons why the housing scheme should be stopped.

Among them was the way the houses had been crammed in. This led to a cramped and poorly regimented layout, too many hard surfaces for the space and a monotonous design.

The scale of five of the houses would be an eyesore visible from Bilsham Road, he stated.

The other reasons included the fact the scheme would mean housebuilding in a rural area and poor visibility from the access to the proposed housing.

This would be dangerous for drivers and other road users travelling along the road, he added.