‘NIMBY’ denial after 120-home Hambrook planning inquiry

As the planning inquiry continued into Sunley Estates’ application on land east of Broad Road, in Hambrook, parish council chairman Cliff Archer denied an assertion from the developer that residents were ‘NIMBYs’.

“The proposal will result in over-development of the parish and the infrastructure is just not there to cope with it,” he said after the inquiry.

“We used the word ‘ghetto’ in our responses and said it would not easily assimilate into the community.”

Chichester District Council robustly defended its decision to refuse the plan, saying the plan went against policies laid out in its recently-approved local plan.

Council barrister Gwion Lewis said in his closing speech that only four months ago the local plan inspector ‘expressed herself satisfied’ at the 435 homes proposed per year in the district, having reviewed more evidence than was available to the inquiry.

Speaking on behalf of Sunley Estates, Sasha White QC said in his closing speech: “There is a vision promoted by Sunley which does involve housing but also involves the provision of facilities which will transform the settlement, the parish and the lives of those who live there.”

However, Cllr Archer cited the local primary school that was full to capacity and said the parish council was not against development in the village, instead looking to see if there was an overall ‘net benefit’ – something he said was missing from this plan.

The planning inspector is expected to make a decision on the appeal in the coming weeks.

Chichester local plan under fire in 120-home planning inquiry.

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