Fresh plans to build homes in Goring Gap submitted

Persimmon wants to build up to 475 homes on the northern gap, known as Chatsmore Farm, immediately north of the railway line.

An application has been submitted to Worthing Borough Council, with residents now having the chance to comment online.

In a statement the Goring and Ilex Conservation Group said: “We are extremely disappointed to learn that Persimmon are pursuing their plan for the northern gap known as Chatsmore Farm, given that they already know that when they consulted residents previously the plan attracted massive opposition.

“This is because local people greatly value this green space which is now included in the draft Worthing local plan as both a local green space and a local green gap.

“We have joined forces with other important amenity groups to oppose these plans and we will all be working together as The Goring Gap Action Group. We are meeting this week to start the campaign to object to Persimmon’s plan. We hope that people will take this opportunity to view the plans on Worthing’s planning Website and make their views known.”

Access to the site would be from a new roundabout on Goring Street, while the scheme contains a local centre and extra car parking for Goring-by-Sea Railway Station.

The application includes 30 per cent affordable housing, pedestrian and cycle links to the existing public right of way and the railway station, public open space south of Ferring Rife, a green spine looping around the site and sustainable drainage systems located in the lower part of the site.

The visual impact of developing on the gap has been one of the main reasons for objections in the past, alongside concerns about the pressure on the surrounding road network, schools and health services.

But Persimmon argues the development can be ‘assimilated in a way which respects the character and setting of the local landscape/townscape, the setting and views from the national park, and retains a significant spatial break in built form along the frontage with Littlehampton Road’.

Its application describes the scheme as a ‘sustainable urban extension providing much needed housing in an accessible and well connected location, where it can assimilate with the existing resident community’.

Persimmon argues the development is within walking distance to the railway station and other local facilities and also suggests improvements will be made to the visual amenity of the area by removing the HV power cables which traverse the site.

To comment visit www.worthing.gov.uk/planning using code AWDM/1264/20.

What do you think? Email the newsdesk.

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