The man behind site six plan for new homes steps down

Planning officer Stephen Cantwell has steered most of the complex planning matters for the site six scheme of 1,350 homes and the northern relief road through to completion.

He has spent four years working on the planning issues to the stage where work can start on the initial stage of the massive development.

When the developers '“ Berkeley Homes, Persimmon Homes and Barratt Developments '“ will begin to lay the first bricks is an unknown in the current dire housebuilding market. It is likely to take the firms four years to complete the building once it gets underway.

But Mr Cantwell is optimistic the finished product will be one of which existing and future residents will be proud.

"I am satisfied that we have got the best looking development, particularly as the sites are going to be the new entrances to the 'greater' Bognor Regis area.

"They have to say something positive about the town '“ and they do.

"It's nice to think as a planning officer that you can make a difference to an area in some way.

"A lot is down to the architects and the developers, and how much effort they want to put in.

"When they do, it's a privilege to be involved.

"I think if this work had been done in the 1960s and 70s, it would have resulted in fairly unadorned buildings, what I would call 'architecturally simple' to be polite."

Worthing resident Mr Cantwell (45) is leaving Arun District Council in mid-September to start a year's MSc degree in environmental assessment and management at Oxford Brookes University.

He sees this as a way of updating his knowledge at a time when environmental matters are coming more to the fore in planning issues. It will also add to his experience of marrying the worlds of council and commerce in partnership projects.

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