A triumph for the Village!

After many years of waiting working in partnership with West Sussex and Cappagh contractors.

Thank you to the two employees who worked very hard and professionally.

Michael Burton Gates stand proud at the entrance to the Village.

October 2020 

Planning Application Ref: 20/02675/OUT

Field South of Raughmere Drive – Strategic Gap

Property Developers Berkeley Strategic Land Ltd have submitted a planning application to Chichester District Council to build 140 houses on the field south of Raughmere Drive (locally known as the Daffodil Field) and forming the Strategic Gap between Lavant and Chichester.

Lavant Parish Council are not supporting this application and will be submitting objections on behalf of the Parish Council. You are also invited to submit your individual comments prior to the closing date on 26 November 2020 via:

· Chichester District Council’s website www.Chichester.gov.uk selecting >Development>Planning Applications>Comment or Search on a Planning Application, then click on View Planning Applications and type the following reference details in the dialogue box: Either: Field South of Raughmere Drive Lavant West Sussex (NB: no punctuation), or, Ref: 20/02675/OUT

· Alternatively submit in writing addressed to the Planning Department, Chichester District Council, East Pallant House, Chichester PO19 1TY for the attention of Jane Thatcher

or by email: jthatcher@chichester.gov.uk

You will also be able to view comments made on line by other interested parties.

To assist with your comments the following facts may be useful:

· The application site has consistently been rejected for housing development by the Chichester District Council and at the subsequent Inquiry. The current application is larger than previously rejected and no material changes to the circumstances have been made in the intervening period.

· Chichester District Council discounted this site for development in their Housing & Economic Land Availability Assessment which identifies a future supply of suitable land available and achievable for housing and economic development over the plan period up to 2037.

· This site is not a sustainable location for development which is a key policy requirement and would result in severe and irrevocable damage to the landscape, countryside, character of the Strategic Gap and coalescence of Lavant and Chichester.

· It conflicts with planning policy nationally and locally and is therefore wholly inappropriate. The area is designated as rural under Section 157 of the Housing Act 1985.

· There is no need for a manufactured landscape which is referred to as a “Country Park”. It is far too small for such accreditation. The field borders 608 square miles of the SNDP. This is a suburban solution applied to a rural site.

We hope this is helpful but if you require any further information please contact our Parish Clerk on 07547 10712 or via email on clerk@lavantparishcouncil.co.uk.

Susan Ings & Louise Tucker

Lavant Parish Council - Planning Meadow