New homes for Ashington approved

The application, for Lodge Farm, in Malthouse Lane, was given the thumbs-up at an online meeting of the planning committee.

A report to the meeting said the original plan had been for nine homes, but the layout was deemed inappropriate and the design unacceptable.

While officers were happy to recommend the seven homes for approval, ward members still had their concerns.

Philip Circus (Con, West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington) called the plans ‘over-development’ and ‘not acceptable’.

John Blackall (Con, West Chiltington, Thakeham & Ashington) agreed.

Referring to strong objections lodged by the parish council, Mr Blackall said the application went against parts of the parish’s emerging neighbourhood plan.

This held little water with some.

Supporting the application, Jonathan Chowen (Con, Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead) argued that the parish council would have ‘a stronger argument’ if they had ‘got on a bit quicker with their neighbourhood plan’.

Members and officers agreed they would have little chance of winning an appeal if the application was turned down.

It was approved by 13 votes to two with one abstention.

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