Worthing – 475 homes on Chatsmore Farm – Appeal Dismissed

Some good news, the Planning Inspectorate has dismissed Persimmon Homes appeal for the 475 homes on the 20 hectares, Chatsmore Farm site west of Worthing.

See:

www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/news/pr25-021.html 

www.theargus.co.uk/news/25046074.plans-new-homes-chatsmore-farm-worthing-dismissed/

This decision was expected before last Christmas so there were concerns that it may have been called into the Secretary of State. That does not appear to have been the case.

This application has undergone many stages to arrive at this dismissal. It was turned down initially by Worthing planning members in March  2021 and the applicant took it to appeal where the inspector approved it. This occurred whilst another inspector was considering the Worthing updated local plan which excluded this site. As a result, that approval was challenged by the authority in the High Court and it was overturned. This resulted in the applicant obtaining this further appeal based on a technicality of their earlier appeal approval.

CPRE had worked with the two main community groups in Goring and Ferring to support objections to the original application and the first appeal and also submitted comment during the local plan consultation. CPRE also gave evidence at the Local Plan examination.

So, in September/October last year this last Planning Inspectorate appeal took place.

The inspector referenced policies in the updated local plan adopted in March 2023 and the latest National Planning Policy Framework to make the judgement that this green gap should remain to prevent coalescence between Worthing and Ferring and loss of character of the local landscape.

Here’s a key extract of the inspector’s conclusions.

‘The appeal site lies outside the BUAB within the countryside and would adversely erode the LGG. The resultant substantial harm carries substantial weight against the proposal. In landscape terms there would be substantial harm to the character and appearance of the local landscape which I afford https://www.gov.uk/planning-inspectorate 13 Appeal Decision APP/M3835/W/21/3281813 substantial weight. I afford great weight to the moderate to modest harm to the SDNP over the lifetime of the development, and my findings that it would not seek to further the statutory purposes of the National Park.’

The tilted balance could not be applied because Worthing can now demonstrate a 5 year housing land supply (107%).

Persimmons could still challenge the decision in the High Court so the question remains will they bother to do so following this last dismissal? Hopefully, this final decision sees an end to the matter and this 20 hectares of grade 2, Best & Most Versatile agricultural land is preserved to prevent loss of the much valued green gap and coalescence between Worthing and Ferring to the benefit of the local communities.

Read full decision: Chatsmore Farm Appleal Decision

CPRE Sussex

Adur & Worthing District