Porches banned from some homes planned for Felpham

The additions to the frontages of properties among the 464 homes have been ruled out by councillors.

They included the ban, on any form of development on to the front of 50 of the houses, because they believed the additions could appear intrusive or disrupt the design of a group of buildings. The ban also includes cladding.

It can only be lifted if the individual householder applies to Arun District Council for planning permission for the work.

Such minor alterations can usually be carried out under permitted development rights without the need for specific approval.

Bans on additional windows on certain elevations of 57 of the properties have also been imposed by councillors. The idea is to prevent excessive overlooking of neighbouring homes. Detailed planning permission will again be needed to install windows in those properties.

The bans were among 34 conditions suggested by planning officer Stephen Cantwell and agreed unanimously by the 14 members of Arun District Council's development control sub-committee on Monday.

The outcome after almost two-and-a-half hours of debate came close to nine years after the large site north of the Roundle estate was highlighted by the council for housing.

Its decision enables developers Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes to begin work on the development as part of the 700-home site six scheme.

Their first stage will be to install a road network and services to the housing. Few properties will be built in the initial months. One in three of the dwellings will be affordable properties.

Cllr John Holman, speaking on behalf of Felpham Parish Council, told the committee: "We would support a ban on permitted development rights.

"Although there are a series of conditions about specific plots, we don't think that's going to go far again."

Graham Beck, speaking for the developers, stated: "A lot of discussions have taken place and both developers have indicated their willingness to accept the limit on permitted development rights."

But he said that the outline approval by the government for the housing did not include such a condition among the 54 imposed at that time.

"To go outside those could be a little bit tricky," he explained.

Mr Beck commented that the developers had provided 100 documents to Arun with their detailed planning application last November. More than 100 extra documents had since been supplied to show the scale of the work involved with the development.

The committee's approval followed a deferral last month because councillors were unhappy with the quality of the proposed housing.

They were more satisfied second time around. Mr Cantwell told them the developers had made a 34 per cent increase in the number of properties which would feature rendering, flintwork, stonework or weather boarding to make them more distinctive.

Cllr Elaine Stainton (Felpham West), however, said: "I am not happy about the flats.

They look very plain, with too much grey, and very bland."

Another talking point was the bus gate which will divide the new estate at its sole meeting point with existing houses, at the end of the Westmorland Drive.

This will be a two-lane point with bollard in each which will be lowered through electronic signals sent from buses and emergency service vehicles.

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