Planning appeal success heralds much-needed new homes

Henry Adams Planning team has provided evidence to the Planning Inspectorate in support of an appeal application for 48 homes and a dental/doctors’ surgery in Walberton village. 

Based on all the evidence provided, the Inspector found in favour of the appeal and outline planning permission was granted on 5th April 2023. 

The planning application had previously been refused by Arun District Council for the development at Yapton Lane, Walberton, following the original application by LandQuest (Southern) UK. Reasons for the refusal centred on the site’s location within a settlement gap and loss of agricultural land at the edge of Walberton. A number of other matters were originally cited by the Council, but subsequently withdrawn in the lead-up to the Inquiry.

Partner at Henry Adams, Peter Cleveland MRTPI, was instructed by Land Quest (Southern) UK to assist with the appeal, specifically in regard to planning policy and housing matters which were central to the case. 

The Henry Adams planning team worked closely with landscape expert, Claire Brockhurst, FLI, BSC (Hons), Dip LA, who also appeared at the hearing on behalf of LandQuest. They were both called to give evidence by Thea Osmund-Smith and Odette Chalaby of No. 5 Chambers.

The Planning Inspector found that the proposed homes would contribute to the ‘acute need’ for homes in the area which outweighed other concerns. She noted that ‘the Council is facing a serious and persistent housing crisis.”

Peter Cleveland, Head of Planning at Henry Adams, said, “We are very pleased with the outcome, not only for our clients at LandQuest but also for all the people who will eventually be moving into the new homes in such an attractive location. The Inspector sided with our position on a number of grounds the Council had objected to, after reviewing the evidence in its entirety.”

Henry Adams Planning was also able to secure a set of reasonable and realistic conditions to be met by the developers prior to implementing the approved outline planning permission for the construction of up to 48 dwellings (30% affordable homes) and a dental/doctors’ surgery.