Villagers better equipped to fight off future housing

Hard-working villagers are celebrating having a far greater chance of fighting further unwanted housing bids after their neighbourhood plan was formally accepted.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Sep 2016, 15:50 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:27 BST

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Members of the group celebrating the plan with other residents at the annual Parish Apple Day in Maybush Copse.Members of the group celebrating the plan with other residents at the annual Parish Apple Day in Maybush Copse.
Members of the group celebrating the plan with other residents at the annual Parish Apple Day in Maybush Copse.

Chidham and Hambrook’s plan was approved by Chichester district councillors at the full meeting on September 20.

Chidham Parish Council chairman Cliff Archer congratulated the neighbourhood plan working group on a highly successful outcome after three years of hard work.

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He said: “The fact that the neighbourhood plan is now part of the Chichester local plan means that the parish at last has strong protection against unwanted development in the parish.

“In the past few years, the parish has been the victim of a torrent of development applications that have been allowed on appeal.”

Mr Archer pointed out that the plan had already been successful, even before it was finalised.

“An appeal against a proposal to build 120 homes on a greenfield site in the parish was dismissed by the (Government) minister, who referred to the emerging neighbourhood plan many times in his statement of dismissal,” he added.

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Chichester District Council’s formal adoption means Chidham and Hambrook’s neighbourhood plan will now form part of its local plan, which allocates the areas in the district suitable for building on over the next 20 years.

It follows residents voting comprehensively in favour of adopting the plan with a 94 per cent yes vote to a referendum held on September 13.

The community of Chidham, Hambrook and Nutbourne East now has greater control on future development, to the delight of Andy Collins, chairman of the neighbourhood plan working group and all the other members who have worked so hard.

Chidham & Hambrook is a parish with an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the south but with most housing north of the A259.

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It was therefore a delicate balance to get proposals for new development right.

The local plan requirement on housing numbers in the parish has been greatly oversubscribed, with several major housing developments taking place in the area.

However, Mr Collins said: “On the good side we are meeting one of the neighbourhood plan aspirations for green spaces and recreation areas within two of these developments.

“We can also now claim 25 per cent of Community Infrastructure Levy on future new developments within the parish, this would be only 15 per cent without a neighbourhood plan in place.”

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He added: “The whole parish gives a big thank-you to all those on the Chidham & Hambrook Neighbourhood Plan Working Group.”

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Related topics:VillagersHambrookChichester District CouncilGovernment