Decision to be made on deferred housing plan

Plans to demolish stables in order to build 26 new homes are set to be considered by a council in West Sussex.

The application is to develop the Rohan Stables site on the A285 opposite Tinwood Lane in Halnaker.

The plan has been recommended for approval, with Chichester District Council's planning committee set to make a decision on Wednesday.

The plans were deferred in August as some committee members felt 26 homes would be too much for the site and asked for the matter to be discussed with the applicant B.Yond Homes Ltd.

Planning officers warned at the time that a delay in making a decision could lead to the applicant launching an appeal against non-determination, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

If approved, the homes built would be four one-bedroom flats, four two-bedroom bungalows, five two-bedroom houses, one three-bedroom bungalow, eight three-bedroom houses and four four-bedroom houses.

Eight properties would be classed as affordable.

A design and access statement submitted with the application said a large buffer zone would sit between the site and Devil’s Ditch, which is classified as a scheduled ancient monument.

The statement said: "Once built, [it] will be an attractive development, promoting a sense of place whilst providing occupants with a sense of community, ownership and belonging.”

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