Investigation into potential Washington noise barrier breach claim

At a Washington Parish Council meeting last month, a villager complained that noise of dogs barking from Old Clayton Kennels on Storrington Road was a ‘nuisance’ to the new Milford Grange residents.

David Wilson Homes (of Barratt Homes)is currently developing 79 homes at the The Milford Grange site after it was approved on appeal in 2012.

The Planning Inspector who passed the decision said that fencing along the boundary between the site and the kennels should reduce the level of noise between Old Clayton and the development.

However, at the public meeting (August 18) a resident claimed that the developer was in breach of the condition, according to Alan Murray who was in attendance.

In response to this claim, Horsham District Council (HDC) told the County Times that the developer must not start construction until the sound barrier is in place.

A HDC representative said: “Outline planning permission was granted to Barratt Homes on the condition that no development should take place until a scheme of acoustic mitigation is installed.

“This appears not to be the case and we are therefore investigating this apparent breach of planning control as a matter of urgency.”

Residents were also at the meeting to discuss a separated planning application submitted by Abingworth Strategic Limited to build 41 homes adjacent to Millford Grange.

This is proposed on the Old Clayton site where the dog kennel and cattery is currently located.