Decision details

6 Public Speakers

Cllr Stephen Abbott – Ferring Parish Council

Peter Hyatt - Objector

Ed Miller – Objector

Joanna Goodman – Applicant

Hugh James - Agent         

          Cllr Roger Elkins - Arun District Council Ward Member

Development comprising of marine workshop & boatyard, martial arts gym (Class E) & storage container compound (Class B8) to replace former glasshouses. This site is a Departure from the Development Plan & is in CIL Zone 3 (Zero Rated) as other development.

The Planning Area Team Leader presented the report. This was followed by 6 Public Speakers.

Members then took part in a full debate on the application where a number of points were raised and responded to by Officers, including:

·       the site being previously horticultural and bounded by countryside on east, west and largely to south in a strategic gap between settlements

·       proximity to Highdown Hill and an ancient burial ground

·       the application having the effect of extending the semi-industrial boundary southwards

·       there being no exceptional reason to approve this application in the strategic gap contrary to the Local Plan

·       whether the activities proposed were appropriate for the site, consequences for traffic on the A259 and why a pre-existing business needed to move to this site

·       there being commercial development in a settlement gap

·       it being material that the South Downs National Park Authority have objected to this application

·       the proposed design having an adverse visual impact

·       concerns over the height of the development and impacts on surrounding residents

·       the width of roads especially when considering vehicles towing boats

·       the issue of noise and odour

·       the extent of the opening hours and the impact on residents

·       positive development for future of small businesses in the area

The Committee

RESOLVED

That the application be REFUSED by reason of its location, types of use and heights of buildings will have an unacceptable impact on the character and appearance of the area and serve to unacceptably erode the strategic gap between Angmering and Worthing contrary to policies C SP1, D DM1 and SD SP3 of the Arun Local Plan and policy 7 of the Ferring Neighbourhood Plan.