Chichester Borough Council refuses nine large homes

Chichester Borough Council has refused plans for nine homes at The Folly, Tinwood Lane, Halnaker, Chichester, West Sussex, following officers’ recommendation of refusal.

The application sought full planning permission for nine open-market dwellings, a widened vehicular access onto the A285, an internal road and parking, pedestrian access, an infiltration basin, and associated landscaping. Officers concluded that the site lies in the countryside outside a settlement boundary and therefore conflicts with the Development Plan.

While the proposal would have provided some benefits, including new market housing, economic activity during construction and occupation, and an early start on delivery, these were judged to be outweighed by the harm. The scheme was considered an inefficient use of land and offered a housing mix that did not reflect local need, with dwellings described as excessively large.

Design and layout were also criticised. The development was said to be poorly suited to its sensitive rural setting and to create an urbanising form of development that would harm the area’s character. In ecological terms, the proposal was found likely to have significant adverse effects on bats linked to the Singleton and Cocking Tunnels SAC, with insufficient mitigation to protect commuting and foraging routes.

Further concerns related to the lack of a completed Section 106 agreement, meaning affordable housing, biodiversity net gain, and traffic mitigation measures for the A27 and wider network were not secured.

Overall, officers concluded that the harms significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits, leading to refusal.