Trees saved as councillors reject West Meads Precinct extension

Councillors decided that the proposals for The Precinct, to provide an extended doctors' surgery, an extra shop and eight flats should not be allowed.

They gave three reasons for their refusal for a development which would be the biggest since the estate was built in the 1960s.

They wanted the four horse chestnut trees which would have been axed to make room for the new buildings to stay.

They also considered the extensions to both sides of the buildings which line The Precinct would have been an eyesore compared to the rest of the open plan design of the area as well as being detrimental to the amenity of residents.

The members of Arun District Council's development control committee additionally ordered their planning officers to impose a tree preservation order on all the trees around The Precinct to stop them being threatened by future development.

The refusal ran counter to the views of the council's planning officers who said the new buildings should be stopped only because of the loss of the horse chestnuts.

Cllr Ricky Bower (East Preston) said: "The extensions would be out of character with the existing buildings, certainly detrimental to the open spaces of West Meads and overbearing to neighbouring properties."

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