A great step forward, Worthing Borough Council has been advised that it has secured leave to appeal the Planning Inspectorate decision to allow 465 dwellings on the Chatsmore Farm site on the northern Goring Gap. A two day hearing has been set and a court date is likely to be heard in September 2022.
If this appeal is successful it will quash the Inspector's decision and a new public enquiry will be arranged. Whilst there is no guarantee that the Council would win a second appeal, It will enable the Council to further its arguments that the inspector in determining the appeal failed to give due weight to a number of key areas and in addition it is anticipated that by the Summer of 2022 the Local Plan Inspector's report should be published which will give greater weight to the policies of Green Gaps in the emerging Worthing Local Plan.
Worthing Borough Council, under a Conservative administration, had pledged that it would fight the allowed planning appeal, “tooth and nail” in the interest of preserving the integnty of the gaps and valuable green spaces across Worthing.
Cllr Kevin Jenkins, Goring ward councilor and leader of the Conservative group on
Worthing Borough Council sald; "We were clear from the very beginning that this
decision was wrong and that we would challenge it in the High Court in order to preserve our green gaps. The recent Leveling Up and Regeneration Bill places importance on Local Plans in which councils set a vision for future development, plans that have been shaped by the local communities. Residents came together to protest about this decision and thousands signed a petition. We should be supporting our own emerging local plan and through that value local democracy”.
“I am calling on Worthing Council and the new Labour administration to uphold our previous pledge to fight this appeal. CIlr Cooper came to the protest and made some very impassioned speeches supporting the protesters. She now needs to put those words into action and agree that we go to the High Court. To pull out now would be an utter abandonment of local residents”.
Kevin Jenkins
Councilor Goring ward
Leader Conservative group
Worthing Borough Council
