Chatsmore Farm - Decision - Victory for Worthing Council
The High Court has overturned the previous appeal planning decision of a Planning Inspector to allow 475 homes to be built on Goring gap at Chatsmore Farm.
Worthing Council had previously refused permission for homes to be built on this land stating that it would be contrary to the emerging Worthing local Plan, cause the loss of an important green gap and have a negative impact on the South Downs National Park. Today in her judgement Mrs Justice Lang found for the Council against the government and developer Persimmon Homes when she quashed a decision by a public inquiry inspector to give the scheme at Chatsmore Farm the go ahead.
Councillor Kevin Jenkins, leader of the Conservative Group on Worthing Borough Council and goring Councillor said:
'This is great news for Worthing, all along we have said that this is the wrong place to build homes, that Chatsmore Farm is a valuable green gap, that should be preserved for the very reasons set out in the Local Plan for Worthing. I am pleased that the decision of the previous Conservative administration to commit public funds (that will now be repaid by the Secretary of State) to fight the planning inspector's decision has been proved right. Had we not taken that decision and committed the Council to this fight when we did, then the narrow timeline of opportunity to lodge and then win this appeal would have been lost. I am grateful that the Council followed through on our decision and we see the positive result we have today
I now call on the Secretary of State to consider calling in this application for determination, so that local residents voices can be fully heard and listened to, this is the start of the next phase of the fight to preserve this green gap and with my fellow councillors I will be working closely with Sir Peter Bottomley to get this matter resolved.'
Sir Peter Bottomley MP has commented:
"This is a massive victory for our local councils and for our communities.
Many people have fought the good fight, I am glad to have supported them and to have worked with them.
It was wrong that the Appeal Inspectorate overruled the elected council and the initial inspectorate’s justified refusal to build over 400 homes in the Goring Gap. Their decision was perverse. It wrecked the planning system as we know it and eroded the authority of our elected local council.
Ministers should now intervene and give their own inspectors clear instructions and guidance to preserve the identity of local villages and towns, not too concrete every field, vineyard, market garden or recreation space."
