Planning barrier thrown in front of St Wilfrid’s scheme

Bosham Parish Council has objected to St Wilfrid’s plans to build a new hospice at Oakcroft Nursery, in Walton Lane.

The planning application submitted earlier this year calls for the demolition of the existing glasshouses on the site and the building of a new hospice with 18 bedrooms for patient care as well as a day hospice with a cafe, shops, offices, car parking and landscaping.

This is part of an overall expansion of the hospice that would see it move from its Donnington home.

The parish was clear it supported St Wilfrid’s desire to expand its facilities but said there were ‘very serious planning issues’ with the current plan.

“Notwithstanding the strong support for St Wilfrid’s both here in Bosham and across the whole of the local area, there are some very serious planning issues which need to be addressed before a decision is reached to permit development on this site,” said the council in its official response.

It said the proposal was contrary to the policies of the emerging Bosham Parish neighbourhood plan and was also within the Chichester Harbour area of outstanding natural beauty.

“It is also contrary to the Chichester district local plan which expressly resists major large scale development projects in the Chichester Harbour AONB,” the council added.

It also raised concern regarding traffic, saying there was no proposed improvement to access to Walton Lane from the A259.

Worries over 100 staff members travelling to and fro along the road sparked safety fears.

“Already, when heavy lorries arrive or depart from the Walton Farm there is little room for other traffic at the junction or in the lane. Further this lane is used extensively by families walking and cycling children to school and this planning application will seriously increase the risk of an accident,” said Bosham Parish Council.

Parking, flooding, lighting and foul water drainage were all flagged in addition by the council as reasons why it opposed the proposal from St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

The council’s planning committee voted nine to one in favour of objecting to the application last week.

To view the plans for the proposed £12m site in full, go to the Chichester District Council website www.chichester.gov.uk and search application 15/01507/FUL in the planning section.

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