Housing sites could see 260 new homes in Midhurst and Easebourne

At a meeting of the park’s planning committee yesterday (Thursday, March 9) it was revealed that the former brickworks has been earmarked for some 65 to 90 new homes together with ‘other complementary uses’.

In addition between 45 and 70 homes are proposed on the former Holmbush Caravan Park.

The national park will require a master plan to be submitted for both sites as part of any planning application.

Between eight and ten new homes have also been allocated for the Brisbane House site off The Fairway which is currently used as residential parking for the three apartment blocks there.

Planning officers said they considered the site to be ‘under used at present and suitable for a ‘well designed residential development that enhances the character of the area and draws attention to its special features.”

A new site on land at Park Crescent has also been earmarked for another eight to ten homes .

The site consists of a large area of residential garden in the curtilage of 12 Park Crescent together with smaller portions of the gardens of 9, 10 and 11 Park Crescent.

It is next to the Lamberts Lane site which has already been included in the park’s ‘preferred options’ published in 2015 for 20 homes. This site consists of disused buildings formerly home to the youth club and the Women’s Institute as well as tennis courts.

A public exhibition was held in Midhurst yesterday evening by developers Metis Homes unveiling their plans to build 22 new homes on this site.

At Easebourne the former primary school buildings in Easebourne Street have been allocated for between 12 and 15 new homes with up to an extra four through conversion of the listed part of the school building.

The school closed in 2013 and moved to the former intermediate school in Wheelbarrow Castle after major refurbishment work.

A further 16 to 20 houses are proposed at the Cowdray Works Yard on the western side of Easebourne Lane together with commercial buildings.

In addition another 16 to 20 new homes are earmarked for land at Egmont Road which planners say is currently ‘under utilised’.

Chairman of the national park authority Margaret Paren said she was pleased to see master plans would be required for the two major Midhurst sites: “Both of these have rather exciting possibilities,” she said.

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