Homes plan set for public inquiry after legal fight

A government planning agency backed a decision to refuse permission for the homes

An appeal against a decision to reject plans for 475 houses in Worthing will be considered at a public inquiry.

Worthing Borough Council mounted a legal challenge against the Planning Inspectorate's decision to allow developer Persimmon Homes to build on Chatsmore Farm, located on the green gap between Worthing and Ferring.

The appeal will now be re-determined at a public inquiry at Worthing Town Hall which opens on Tuesday.

The borough council said it would "fight to protect" the area from development but Persimmon Homes said its previously successful planning appeal had been "on a technicality".

The council said: "We’ll be continuing our fight to prevent housing being built on the green gap.

"Members of the public can come along to hear us and campaigners arguing why the development should not be allowed."

The property developer wants to build homes at Chatsmore Farm

The borough council rejected the plans in March 2021.

But the developer was given the go-ahead after appealing to the government.

A High Court judge overturned the appeal decision, ruling that a government inspector had not given enough weight to the impact the development in the Goring Gap would have on the South Downs National Park.

The public inquiry will continue on Wednesday, and then will sit on 24-26 September and 1-3 October.

A Persimmon spokesperson said: “The previous inspector described Worthing’s unmet housing need as ‘exceptionally high’ with ‘significant real-life consequences for residents living in the borough’.

They added that the developer's desire was "to provide high-quality, affordable new homes in an area that desperately needs them".