Plans to build an £800 million housing estate made up of 2,200 homes on arable farmland have been given outline permission by councillors, subject to conditions.
But councillors were told that fewer of the homes on land west of Bersted, on the edge of Bognor, would be classed as affordable – 204 instead of 217.
The proportion is under 10 per cent and well below the level required under Arun District Council policy which would normally be 30 per cent.
More than 130 of the affordable homes would be for rent, or about two-thirds of them, with the rest for shared ownership.
The modest share of affordable housing was supported by a “viability assessment” citing high construction costs. But developer contributions worth almost £60 million were agreed to render the plans acceptable.
The planning application was submitted by the Church Commissioners for England and Landlink Estates Limited, formerly known as Langmead Estates, owned by farmer David Langmead, 62, of Ham Farm, Main Road, Bosham.
They sought outline planning permission to demolish the existing buildings and structures on the 356-acre – or 144-hectare – site and to build homes, shops and business premises, a primary school and care home.
The scheme includes a spine road from Chalcraft Lane to the A259 as well as two parks, playing fields and woodland.
The council’s Planning Committee had been due to decide the application in January but deferred the decision for another look at the effects of the scheme on road junctions.
They also had concerns about the proposed mix of affordable housing – a half-and-half split between homes for rent and shared ownership. This was revised to two-thirds for rent.
The committee was told that the land, which includes some ponds and reservoirs, had been earmarked for up to 2,500 homes. This looks likely to be reached, with other schemes making up the difference.
The Landlink scheme, which has been in the pipeline for several years, seems likely to be built in eight stages, with the project due to be completed in 2039.
The outline application – or masterplan – was approved by the Planning Committee at a meeting held at Arun Civic Centre, in Maltravers Road, Littlehampton, last Thursday (8 May).
The masterplan was designed by architects Scott Brownrigg. The details will be subject to further planning applications when the details of the scheme will be fleshed out.
