Concerns expressed over emerging Cowdray Estate plan for the future

CONCERNS have been expressed over the emerging plan being drawn up by the Cowdray Estate to shape its future.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Mar 2016, 12:50 BST
Updated 14th Mar 2016, 12:54 BST

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Copies of the draft plan have been given to members of Easebourne Parish Council and last week consultant Andrew Watson invited them to comment at a full meeting of the council.

He said the Cowdray Estate draft plan was still at an early stage, but covered sites in Easebourne and Midhurst.

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Parish council chairman Judith Macdonald-Lawson told Mr Watson she was concerned about references to the development of the former King Edward VII hospital in the emerging plan.

“The KEVII development is such a big issue for Easebourne and it is ultimately going to add 50 per cent to the population of the village.

“There is a paragraph in the draft plan which says KEVII sets a precedent for the South Downs National Park in terms of allowing development in the area of outstanding natural beauty.

“I would argue it did not set a precedent. KEVII was a particular case because it was about restoring the listed building and the new development was granted only as enabling development. I feel very uncomfortable about that being used as a precedent for building on green land in Easebourne.”

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She said there had been nothing ‘extra’ given back to Easebourne in terms of infrastructure for increase in the population of the village.

Mr Watson told parish councillors: “The Estate are not planning anything as big as the King Edward VII development.”

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