Support given to King Edward VII plans in Midhurst

The committee, meeting at Lewes, voted to tell Chichester District Council the authority would raise no objection as long as a string of provisos were met.

But they are to consult further with other organisations before making a final decision.

Following a public meeting hosted by Easebourne Parish Council, it appears local opinions are hardening that permitting nearly 400 homes and care apartments in the national park to preserve the listed hospital buildings is not justifiable.

Chris Savage, who lives with his family just outside the 123-acre hospital estate, told the Observer: “Wiping out acres of the national park to save buildings the public will be unable to see is not the solution. It is commercial development exploiting the area for profit.

“Building a new town without the necessary infrastructure is not the answer.

“New thinking is required to avoid just repeating the failures of developers before.”

Mr Savage believes if the 100-year-old former sanitorium, inspired by the concern of King Edward VII for TB sufferers, is the iconic building of national heritage importance it is said to be, national resources should be called on to fund its restoration - and it and its famed Gertrude Jekyll gardens should be open to the public.

He claims there is the potential for Heritage Lottery Fund money to be attracted by converting part of the hospital for residential use while a more culturally beneficial use, of national significance in a national park, is found for the remainder.

“The planners need to remember the first planning consent was granted because a new hospital was to be included and that would be good for the community,” Mr Savage said.

“That never happened and there is no good for the community in this.

“There is a solution out there that doesn’t involve such massive destruction of a national park, with no benefit – only considerable burden – on the community.”

At the national park planning committee’s meeting, members were advised the City and Country Group’s scheme for the King Edward would be the largest development ever likely to be proposed in the national park.

The authority has welcomed the decision of Chichester District Council to commission an independent assessment of whether the project is viable.

Meanwhile, Haslemere Town Council has objected to the number of homes to be created at the hospital site, saying the local infrastructure could not sustain such a large development.