Chatsmore Farm Planning Development Refused

The Planning Inspectorate has rejected Persimmon Homes’ appeal against Worthing Borough Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for 475 properties on the green gap between Worthing and Ferring.

The decision comes after more than three years of legal challenge through the planning system and the courts since Worthing’s planning committee rejected its application for the site in 2021.

Persimmon must now either give up its challenge to the council’s decision or appeal to the High Court.

Cllr Sophie Cox, the leader of Worthing Borough Council, said: “We have always been clear that we would fight to protect Chatsmore Farm from development and I’m delighted and relieved by the planning inspector’s decision.

“As a council for the community, we have worked alongside residents and campaigners to defend this piece of land that has been designated as green space in our Local Plan. The community has been united in its opposition to Persimmon’s plans and I’m grateful to everyone who has been involved.

“We recognise the pressing need for more new homes in Worthing, particularly genuinely affordable homes, but they must be in the right areas, not on green spaces like Chatsmore Farm.

“It’s now time for Persimmon to abandon its housing plans for Chatsmore Farm. We’d be happy to work with its team to come up with ideas for how the area could be used to benefit the community.”

The battle over Chatsmore Farm has raged since Worthing’s planning committee turned down Persimmon’s application for planning permission in March 2021.

The developer successfully challenged the committee’s decision at a planning inquiry but the inquiry’s decision was subsequently quashed by the High Court after the council appealed against it. The Court of Appeal then rejected Persimmon’s appeal against the High Court’s ruling.

The case was then passed to a different inspector from the Planning Inspectorate to consider.

The inspector, Yvonne Wright, heard evidence from the developer, the council and local residents and campaigners at hearings at Worthing Town Hall in September and October this year.

In her ruling, the inspector said the development would “substantially reduce” the green gap between Worthing and Ferring, which would “compromise its integrity as an important gap” and “erode its purpose”.