Worthing council launches High Court case against development

Worthing Borough Council has submitted its request to bring a case before a High Court judge, which it hopes would see plans to build homes at Chatsmore Farm, near Goring, scrapped.

Persimmon Homes initially lost its bid to build at the green space after councillors rejected the idea, but later won its appeal after a planning inspectorate granted permission.

A council spokeswoman said: “Building on Goring Gap might be right for the developer, but it is wrong for Worthing. We are determined to stop this unwanted development.

The build site for Persimmon Homes' 475 new properties

“We have now taken our case to the High Court to fight for the right decision to be made, to protect this open space for the community and to prevent the urban sprawl along the coast.”

The council hopes a judge will rule that the planning inspectorate cancel its decision and review the case again.

Persimmon Homes plans to build 475 homes on the site, but there has been “widespread opposition to the development”, with more than 1,200 letters of objection submitted so far.

A spokesman for Persimmon Homes said: “The council is challenging the judgement made by the independent planning inspector following the well-publicised public inquiry.

“Their judgment was reached after considering and balancing all the relevant issues, including the council’s draft development plan and Worthing’s ‘exceptional’ unmet housing need.

“The independent planning inspector recognised that these new homes would ‘make a significant contribution to meeting the unmet affordable housing need and would result in tangible benefits for real individuals whose needs may otherwise go unmet’. Indeed, these benefits are reflected by people already contacting us to register their interest in these new homes.”