Lower housing number proposed at Pagham development site

Taylor Wimpey’s outline planning application for 280 homes north of Sefter Road was approved by Arun District Council back in 2018.

However when a detailed reserved matters application was submitted last year, this was turned down by Arun mainly due to concerns around design and layout.

The developer has revised its plans and is now asking for the public’s views before formally submitting them to the council.

It has set up a project website www.regisparkpagham.co.uk while residents can email their comments by Monday March 8 to [email protected] or use the freephone number at 0800 689 5209.

The latest planning application is for 250 new homes, comprising a mixture of houses and flats, 30 per cent of which will be affordable housing.

The existing scout hut at Sefter Road will be replaced with a contemporary single-storey timber-clad building, with parking and land to undertake scouting activities.

Land will also be allocated to the north of the scout hut for an ambulance community response post, which provides rest facilities for staff between emergencies.

The site also includes five children’s play areas and a 2.1km circular recreational route for pedestrians and dog walkers.

Meanwhile the drainage strategy includes attenuation basins, a network of swales and permeable paving.

The main vehicle and pedestrian access point is from Sefter Road, with an additional emergency, pedestrian and cycle access from the south east of the site on to Rose Green Road.

A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey said: “As a responsible developer we take the views of the local community seriously and we would normally hold a public exhibition to meet with anyone interested in the plans.

“However, due to social distancing guidelines it’s not presently possible. Instead, everything that would normally be available at a public exhibition has been put online, and we will also provide hard copies to those that request it. We encourage people to take a look and provide their feedback.”

Unlike the previously refused planning application, this latest application excludes land on the site that could be used for either a primary school, care home or further homes.

Outline planning permission has been granted for another developer at Summer Lane which also includes land for a primary school, and this is the council’s preferred location because sufficient land can be provided at that site.

However, should this not go ahead, there is still the flexibility for a primary school to be delivered on the land north of Sefter Road.

A further reserved matters application for this parcel of land would come forward at a later stage.