Plans to expand a cottage and turn it into five homes have been refused by Chichester District Council.
The application, from Lavant House Academy, for a building on West Lavant Road, was turned down by the planning committee on Wednesday (September 11).
The cottage is part of the Lavant House Estate and the plan was to use it primarily as housing for young adults who work there.
The council received 11 letters supporting the plans and five objections.
But the committee agreed with officers that the new building would be a ‘cramped and contrived form of development which would
cause unacceptable harm to the landscape character of the South Downs National Park’.
They also agreed that the modern design of the extensions and materials
used would ‘detract from the historic character and appearance of the area’.
Roy Briscoe (Con, Westbourne) called the proposed parking provision ‘an absolute nightmare’ which would cause ‘absolute chaos’ to one of the cottage’s neighbours.
He added: “I think the applicant is trying to fit too much into such a small space.”
And David Betts (Lib Dem, North Mundham & Tangmere) said the whole project needed ‘a rethink’.
He added: “It’s such a great idea or purpose but it’s just trying to cram too much in and we’re losing something of the historic context as well.”
The plans were refused unanimously.
To view the application, log on to planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk and search for 23/02367/FUL.
