Bid for 41 homes at Old Clayton Kennels near Washington refused by council

Yvonne Copp, owner and director of the cattery and kennels, off the A283, explained that development on the site would allow the business to relocate around five miles away.

The site is next to the Millford Grange development where 78 homes are currently being built and Mrs Copp said that the business was ‘under real threat’, with noise complaints made despite noise attenuation barriers.

Horsham District Council’s Development Control South Committee threw out plans on Tuesday with councillors speaking strongly against the scheme.

Patrick Heeley, chairman of Washington Parish Council, explained the site had been ruled out as part of work on the area’s neighbourhood plan, and added: “The parish council objects strongly to this application, and takes the view that the desire of the kennels to relocate is not a justification to build 41 homes on this site.”

Alan Murray, speaking in objection, pointed out that when the planning inspector approved Millford Grange on appeal, he stated there should be no impact of the kennels on new residents, and no threat to the future of the business given adequate acoustic screening between the sites.

Diana Van Der Klugt (Con, Chantry) described how the Millford Grange development was ‘imposed on a largely unwilling community by the planning inspector on appeal’.

She added: “The planning inspector has not had to endure the misery suffered by the local community and months of endless queueing back and forwards along the A283.”

Roger Arthur (UKIP, Chanctonbury) referenced the area’s stretched infrastructure and the air quality problems in Storrington, while Philip Circus (Con, Chantonbury) described how the existing development did ‘complete violence to the rural and semi-rural nature of that road and environment’.