The Nursery Fields development is part of the masterplan for 2,500 new homes which make-up the West of Bersted Strategic housing site and which was recently endorsed by Arun District Council.
The new homes on the 37 acre (15 ha) development will be set in substantial areas of formal and informal public spaces and will include new footpaths, cycleways, a community orchard, play areas and sports facilities. A third of the new homes will be affordable, fully in line with the council’s adopted housing policy.
Landform will be making a significant financial contribution towards the infrastructure and new facilities required for the West of Bersted strategic development. These facilities include a new GP facility, a nursery school, a new three form entry primary school, special needs requirements at the school, as well as a new community sports hub, swimming pool and outdoor sports fields.
Landform, which will be making these contributions under a Section 106 agreement, will be paying up to £4m towards the costs of the new facilities.
Landform is working on the project with the Church Commissioners and Landlink Estates who are developing the rest of the site. However, Nursery Fields is a stand-alone scheme and is not dependent on the wider site area for access or other facilities, but it is fully consistent and compatible with the proposals.
A new access road will be built from Chalcraft Lane, which will also serve the existing Chalcroft Nursery, together with a new cycleway and footpath and a new pedestrian pelican crossing. The new road, which will fully meet West Sussex County Highway technical standards, will re-provide the existing Chalcroft Nursery access which is to be closed and this will improve the amenity for the neighbouring residents and improve pedestrian circulation along Chalcraft Lane.
As part of Section 106 agreement, Landform will also be making contributions to fund the upgrade of a number of local roads and key junctions, including improvements to the A259 to Chichester.
In a separate application made in August, Landform is seeking planning consent to expand Chalcroft Nursery’s commercial space and build up to 20 new homes on the site. A decision is expected from the council shortly and, if approval is received, then building work on both developments will start in mid-2021.
