92-home housing scheme at Lagness Road, Runcton, Chichester

The site and surroundings

The site covered 6.10 hectares beside Runcton, included a dwelling, gardens, fields and agricultural land, and adjoined a conservation area.

“The application site covers a total area of 6.10 hectares of land in mixed use on the eastern edge of Runcton, east of Saltham Lane and south of the B2166 Lagness Road. It includes a portion (0.82 ha) of the B2166 Lagness Road as part of the access area which is subject to a 40mph speed limit at this point. The overall site topography is generally flat with a north to south fall in levels of around 2-2.5m over a distance of 300m.”

“The site's southern boundary is formed by mature tree planting and an understorey of scrub with the glasshouses of Hill Brothers commercial nursery beyond that. To the north the site boundary with Lagness Road is defined by a mix of formal hedges to the garden of Wheatlands, intermittent tree planting and low level scrub to the east. The east boundary which is adjacent to the access drive to Hill Brothers nursery is defined by intermittent mature tree planting and scrub.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard from a parish council representative, the agent and a ward member before officers answered questions and concerns.

What members discussed

Members discussed agricultural land, housing numbers, density, retaining Wheatlands, heritage, highways, contributions, the housing balance and site suitability.

“On the issue of agricultural land classification, [name withheld] confirmed the land was grade 3, but did not know if it was best and most versatile agricultural land (BMVA) as the relevant tests to determine that status had not been undertaken. However, he explained how the relevance of the land classification needed to be viewed in the context of the Charmans Field development which was on grade 3 agricultural land…”

“Regarding the preservation of Wheatlands, [name withheld] explained how officers had assessed the property to determine whether it could be allocated as a non- designated heritage asset. She informed the Committee that the applicants had also prepared their own report which had concluded there was no merit in retaining the building.”

Minutes

The vote

Members voted by show of hands to defer the application for the legal agreement and then permit it.

“Following a vote, by show of hands the Officer’s recommendation to defer for S106 then permit, was carried.”

Minutes

The decision

The committee resolved to defer for the legal agreement and then permit the application subject to the report’s conditions and informatives.

“Resolved; defer for S106 then permit, subject to the conditions and informatives set out the report.”

Minutes