Littlehampton Waitrose development: decision made on last-ditch attempt to build flats

An artist's impression of what the Waitrose site could look like. Picture: POD Architects

Arun District Council’s planning committee voted against plans to turn the site in Avon Road, Littlehampton, into 83 apartments with some retail space in August last year.

Ropemaker Properties appealed the decision to The Planning Inspectorate, who sent inspector Johanna Ayres to look at the site on January 8.

In a report published on May 4, she dismissed the appeal.

In it, she acknowledged that redeveloping the vacant site, which has been empty since Waitrose moved out in 2015, would benefit the town.

But she said: “These benefits could be secured through a scheme that was more visually harmonious with the area.

“The proposal before me would be a towering bulk of development that would loom above the town and the adjacent heritage assets.”

As part of the appeal process, the inspector had to assess how the development would affect the character of the area, its impact on nearby listed buildings, whether there was enough affordable housing at the site, how it affected retail and whether living conditions would be up to scratch.

She found that the development would increase footfall into the town centre and there would be enough affordable housing.

But the design, which would see the whole site built up to the current highest point of the building, would harmfully impact its surroundings, she found.

She said: “These blank and uninspiring facades would create an inhospitable and somewhat aggressive development and would simply be unsuitable for this town centre site.”

In response to the decision, Arun District Council leader James Walsh said: “I am glad as a Littlehampton Councillor that the Inspector has listened to local objections and dismissed the appeal.

“The proposed scheme would have meant a massively overbearing tall block, towering over all the listed buildings nearby, and would have completely changed the generally pleasant mixed townscape of that neighbourhood.

“As the Inspector has said, the welcome extra affordable town centre housing units can be achieved in a much less domineering way, I support that conclusion, and hope that a new and acceptable proposal comes forward soon to help revitalise this important town centre site.”