In March 2011 Chichester District Councillors voted to refuse permission to Madestein Ltd to build a complex totalling 54 acres to grow lettuces on a site outside the designated Horticultural Development Area.

Madestein appealed against this decision in Autumn 2011 and an inspector began to hear the Appeal in March 2012. CPRE Sussex CT appeared alongside the District Council, the Almodington Association (a group of concerned local residents) and others including the Friends of Chichester Harbour to present evidence to show why the Appeal should be refused. Stuart Meier, our then Director, and Martin Small MRTPI, our Planning Consultant, gave evidence on the effect of the proposal on the landscape quality and tranquillity of the area.

The main part of the Appeal was held over two weeks in March During this period the Government published NPPF, its new planning policy; the Inspector adjourned the Appeal into April to allow modified submissions in the light of the new policy. Madestein took advantage of the delay to submit last-minute revisions of its road proposals; the site is serviced by a narrow country road into which Madestein propose to build 18 passing places to facilitate the traffic of their articulated lorries. We have submitted further comment on this proposal. The Appeal will resume on 20th June at which Stuart Meier will be making final submissions on our behalf.

Photo courtesy of the Almodington Association