Yapton’s housing fears to be heard by area’s MP

Mr Gibb, whose constituency covers the village, will be holding the meeting tomorrow (Friday, September 27), following in the wake of concern from a number of locals about the scale of the suggested development on land north of Church Lane.

The move follows comments this week from Yapton’s Neighbourhood Planning Group co-chairmen Deborah Robinson and Andy Faulkner, who admitted they are ‘extremely worried’ about the influence of Yapton’s neighbourhood plan.

Mr Gibb said: “It is important that residents’ views are paramount in any developments affecting the future of Yapton. I have called this meeting so that no one will be in any doubt about the strength of local opinion.”

The event will take place at the Yapton and Ford Village Hall, in Main Road, at 6.30pm.

Villagers will be asked to give their views about the proposal for 22-acre housing development on agricultural land, which would be comprised of a mix of two-storey, two, three and four-bedroom dwellings.

Up to 30 per cent of the properties would be ‘affordable’.

The scheme was unveiled during a public exhibition last month, by landowner Keith Langmead – who has employed agents Strutt & Parker to implement his plan.

During the public exhibition, Mr Langmead insisted that the development would remain sensitive to the ‘village feel’ of Yapton and that properties would be introduced incrementally and not built all at once.

Mr Langmead said: “I lived in Yapton for the first 25 years of my life and I believe my design is the most sympathetic plan and that it will, hopefully, retain that essential ‘village-feel’. I have done my best to make sure there is plenty of green and open space for the village to enjoy, which many developers wouldn’t have done.”

For the full story, see today’s Littlehampton Gazette (Thursday, September 26).