Since the launch of Westbourne Community Trust earlier this year we’ve been busy preparing proposals for affordable homes on land behind 32 to 56 Mill Road. The initial draft ideas for the development are now ready for you to see.
There will be two events where you can view the ideas and discuss them with the architects and the WCT trustees:
- Tuesday 16 July from 3pm to 7pm at Westbourne Primary School
- Saturday 20 July from 1pm to 4pm at the Westbourne Church Fete on the Rectory Lawn by the Parish Hall
We listened carefully to your comments when we held our first public consultation in February this year.
In response to your feedback, what we’re now proposing is:
- 12 new affordable homes to rent to local people including
- two 3-bed homes
- four 2-bed homes
- six 1-bed homes
- parking for the new homes
- parking for the allotments and users of the park
- new parking spaces on Mill Road to ease parking congestion
- new play equipment to replace the existing equipment
- a new multi use games area (MUGA) to replace the existing sports court
- refurbishment of the skatepark
- a new storage unit to be provided for the allotment and the parish council
- new fencing along the boundary to the allotment site
- a new pedestrian footpath link across the park to the Westbourne Primary School playground
The pre-application submission and two possible options for the scheme are available on our documents page.
We want to hear from all Westbourne residents, so your views can be taken into account as the final version of the scheme is prepared. You can submit comments at the bottom of this page or in person at the events mentioned above.We expect to put in a planning application in late August / early September 2019. You will also be able to make comments directly to Chichester District Council when the planning application is submitted.
Westbourne Primary School pupils will be involved in the design of the scheme and the choice of new play equipment. The trust’s architects will be working in the school towards the end of term to get pupils’ ideas.
New affordable housing at Mill Road – Tell us your views
How can such a small sample of responses be classed as representative? Very selective and blinkered in order to force through your own agenda.
The taking of green space cannot be classed as in the community’s interest.
100% object to this proposal.
The consultation event in July 2019 was extensively publicised in the Westbourne Magazine, in posters placed at several places in the village, by a letter drop to all houses close to the site and by email to all members of the Trust. A very good turnout was achieved and there were 58 responses received of which 49 supported the scheme. The responses came from both residents nearest to the site and from across the community. The results of the consultation have been fully detailed on our website and have not been selectively chosen or restricted to omit negative responses.Only a portion (approximately a third) of the park at Mill Road would be used for the proposed affordable housing scheme. The area not used for affordable housing will be retained as a park and will be significantly improved to replace existing outdated play equipment and facilities. The Trust is also in a position to provide some new public open space in another part of the village which will in part compensate for the lost open space. Any loss of open space is regrettable but in this case the Trust consider that the community interest is well served by providing much needed affordable housing in a situation where there is no expectation that it can be provided elsewhere and this justifies losing some open space.
Westbourne is becoming more and more densely populated with an infra structure that cannot support more houses. This green area is crucial to the village for children to play and to prevent further flooding. The responses received to date do not represent the views of the village who do not want more housing.
There are in fact no significant major new housing developments proposed within the village as part of the Chichester Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Plan. There are small scale developments identified for land at Monks Hill and land to the north of Chantry Farm. These two sites are privately owned and the developers are yet to come forward with planning applications, but they are not expected to be large scale or to include any affordable housing. It is agreed that the Village has limitations in terms of its infrastructure and in particular its road system. This has been accepted by Chichester DC as a reason why no further significant housing development should be allocated for Westbourne in a similar way to allocations that have been agreed in neighbouring Southbourne for example.It is agreed that the Mill Road Park is crucial for the village and although reduced in size by this proposal it will be retained as a park and much improved. The issue of flooding is being addressed as part of the work the Trust is undertaking to support the proposed planning application.
Stop building on every available space trying to make it sound good by offering all these additional things other than just the houses, it will bring more people to the village, create more areas for little gangs to hang out increase crime rate, and take away our green areas, Westbourne is. Nice village because it’s not over built on don’t ruin it
All the facilities we are suggesting as part of the scheme have been welcomed by those who would benefit from them such as the school, the allotment association and Mill Road residents.
The affordable housing is for local people who need a house but cannot afford to buy or rent locally. It will not bring new people into the community but it will address a serious local need. The Trust disagrees with the point about crime and gangs.
No no no. No more house especially not on the children’s park green area.
The park will be retained and although reduced in size by this proposal it will be retained as a park and much improved. The houses will be restricted to occupation by local people and the housing needs survey we have undertaken shows there is a significant local need for affordable housing.
I use the Mill road park everyday without fail and what ever the weather – I use it to walk my dog and to take my Children there – My 10 year old uses the play park and my 13 year old uses the skate park .Every day I see lots of other people using the Mill road park space as well – It gets used even more in the summer with Dads taking their children to have a kick-around with a football/ Families to picnic and just a general gathering space to get fresh air. With both the proposed designs you will be alienating at least one group who already use it – There simply will not be the space to have a kick-around whist others are walking dogs or having a picnic – On a busy day you will find up to 30 people there -its also where the local cubs go on sunny evenings . With this space reduced there is no where else to go as the Monks Hill park is absolutely sodden and waterlogged – you cant play football or have a picnic there unless its the height of summer and the ground has had months to dry out . You want people to get out and get fit but where ? Kids are not interested in brand new equipment they just need space ! There are two nesting Red Kite birds that are using the grounds to hunt for food – they are nesting on the field to the right of the grounds – the RSBP are aware – the kids are loving being able to view the birds and the space that the grounds have to offer – lets not reduce anymore of the land around for our Children and Wildlife to enjoy – Once its gone its gone !.
The park is well used by a variety of people and it will be retained and improved for these uses even if it is smaller. The space for open kickabout football will be reduced but there will be a new enclosed Multi Use Games Area for football and other court sports. There will also be a new skate board park, a jogging track and new improved play equipment. It will still function as a highly valued local park.
The planning application will be supported by an ecology report and we will include proposals to protect and promote biodiversity. The red kites that seem to have recently settled in the area do roam over an extensive area well beyond the park and it is not considered that the proposals will impact on these birds.