Yapton pub may not be levelled

Orchard Homes and Developments, who want to build housing on the 200-year-old Lamb Inn, attended a meeting of Yapton Parish Council’s planning committee to present their new plans.

The proposals, outlined by the housebuilder’s land director, Steve Birch, included the possible retention of the pub building. Mr Birch said: “We have taken on board the reasons for refusal and, as I hope you will see, addressed them in this application.”

The revised application would be for 13 homes, a reduction of one on the previous bid.

“We would not demolish the pub, instead it would be converted into two residential homes. This means you would be able to keep the pub as a building.”

The position of the properties’ front doors would also be changed. Instead of opening out directly on the pavement, the doors would be moved to the side to create the main entrance to the homes.

They would also have back doors leading to gardens, and space for two parked cars.

Mr Birch told the meeting, held earlier this month, he still intended two of the homes to be affordable.

During the meeting, residents raised concerns about overcrowding on the site, added pressure on existing infrastructure, and the developer’s ability to sell the homes in the current market.

Stephen Haymes, chairman of the parish council and Yapton’s Arun District Council ward member, raised concerns about the re-siting of a bus stop.

“My concern is the moving of the bus shelter. As it looks on this plan it would be wedged in between two homes and when a bus pulls up, which I know won’t be all the time, it obscures the view for drivers trying to get out of Taylors Close,” he said.

A previous application on the same Bilsham Road site was refused by Arun in July.

David Tansley, the parish council’s clerk, reminded those gathered this was not a formal planning application. He said: “The parish council is not here to make a decision on this. We, like the public, are here to listen to what is being presented.

“If a planning application is submitted the council will have the opportunity to make their comments as we do on any application.”