Housing plans in disarray
A blueprint for housing development in the Midhurst and Petworth area over the next 15 years is set to be put on hold by Chichester District Council.
Work on the council's Local Development Framework has been thrown into disarray by the coalition government's announcement that it plans to abolish regional housing targets, and by worries over whether there is the infrastructure to cope with an increasing number of homes.
In April, sites with the potential for nearly 1,200 homes at Petworth and a further 500 at Midhurst and Easebourne were revealed as the council moved towards finalising proposals on where future major developments should be located across the district, including north of the Downs.
Details of this 'core strategy' were expected to be made public tomorrow and be considered by CDC's executive board on July 13.
Instead, the board will be advised to put the whole project on hold.
The council wants clarification on local infrastructure provision and future government proposals for planning.
There are continuing concerns about infrastructure and its ability to cope with growth.
There are doubts, also, regarding if and when the financial resources might be made available to deal with the investment that the plan would require.
The Local Development Framework would have updated the district's existing local plan.
The council has told the Observer that should owners of sites identified in April as having development potential put them forward during this limbo period, the majority of the policies under the old local plan will continue to influence decisions.
The possible sites included Leconfield Estate land at Petworth, south of the A272 and west of Station Road. Its potential was for 350 homes.
Land south of the primary school had the potential for 205, land north of Hampers Green industrial estate 172, and land south of the Herbert Shiner School, 155.
At Midhurst, open space and back gardens at June Lane, Midhurst, land south of Barlavington Way, and allotments at Easebourne were also listed.
Consent has already been granted for 85 homes at Holmbush caravan park and 262, under a previous proposal, at the former King Edward VII Hospital.
The district council started work on shaping the Local Development Framework five years ago.
The core strategy was withdrawn in 2007 because a planning inspector questioned how the authority was tackling with some of the issues, and three years on it seems set to face another major delay.
The South Downs National Park Authority will, from next April, assume responsibility for overall strategic control of how and where building occurs.
But it has already decided, in principle, that most of the development control planning work should stay with existing planning authorities.
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Weather for Midhurst
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
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