Phase one of Chichester's Graylingwell homes plans approved

The conversions will be part of the latest phases of the ambitious £250m 750-home Graylingwell Park project.

Phase one, comprising 110 properties, is already well advanced, with people now moving in.

Chichester District Council’s southern area development control committee gave the go-ahead for three further phases, totalling 245 homes, both conversions and new-build. A total of ten phases are planned altogether.

But there was an objection from Chichester City Council, which criticised the design and materials proposed for some of the new-build properties as ‘disappointing’.

City councillors expressed grave reservations about car parking provision and the impact of car movements on the local road infrastructure.

The Summersdale Residents’ Association also objected to the designs.

The latest application relates to a site area of 6.48 hectares.

Of the 245 homes, 103 are ‘affordable’. A total of 133 are proposed for an outer core, formed from the Victorian buildings – 13 two-bed houses, 34 one-bed apartments and 86 two-bed apartments.

Plans for the ‘inner core’ involve 112 homes, all new build – 13 one-bed apartments, 33 two-bed apartments, 12 two-bed maisonettes, 16 three-bed houses and 38 four-bed houses.

“The approach taken has been to provide a very deliberate contrast between the red brick architecture of the retained Victorian institutional buildings in the outer core and the crisp modern architecture of the new dwellings in the inner core,” said a report by planning officers, who recommended approval of the application.

Landscaping plans included retention and restoration of original airing shelters, fountains, hooped iron railings and holly hedges.

Gardens being restored were listed grade II on the English Heritage register of parks and gardens.

The officers said the plans successfully mixed traditional refurbished Victorian architecture with contemporary modern buildings whose design was 
geared to a ‘most demanding’ sustainability agenda.

Chichester district councillor Pam Dignum said she was happy to support the proposals.

“I know there are a few problems and details to be sorted out, but the general trend in both appearance and landscaping is what we would hope for in this development,” 
she added.

It was approved, 12 votes in favour, none against and one abstention.