An appeal against a council decision to refuse permission for 70 homes at a garden centre has been dismissed.
It was launched after Arun District Council refused planning permission for a development of 70 houses at Lansdowne Nursery, in Littlehampton Road, Ferring, near Worthing.
At a hearing at Littlehampton Town Council, on October 17, the government’s planning inspectorate heard how the proposals had been refused by the council in March 2023.
In a decision issued on November 1, the inspector agreed that the countryside location of the development was unsuitable and that the new houses would compromise the separation of Worthing and Angmering.
They also agreed that the houses would harm the setting of the South Downs National Park, views from Highdown Hill and Highdown Hill Camp.
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Despite the shortfall in housing land supply in Arun, the inspector upheld the council’s decision to refuse the application which had received objections from Ferring Parish Council, the National Trust, South Downs National Park, Sir Peter Bottomley MP and 500 residents.
Councillor June Hamilton, chairwoman of the planning committee at Arun District Council, said: “We are very pleased with the inspector’s decision to dismiss the appeal and refuse housing on this important site in Ferring.
“The decision shows that even though the council cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, we are able to win appeals to prevent inappropriate development.”
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