A policy should not be so rigid that it will not take into consideration changes in the market place.The present policy uses tourist data from 2006 when companies like Airbnb did not exist.

In our own case we submitted our original planning application in 2007 but the completion was delayed due to the financial crash in 2008.Once completed over a three year period the occupancy rate actually decreased with a marked increase in short breaks / weekend bookings.This required more cleaning laundry etc.Making the cottages even less viable.The rise of Airbnb could not have been anticipated and has had a profound effect on the market.After consulting with the planning department we were advised that no other business use could be considered.

Recently a CDC planning officer recommended to the committee that policy should be ignored in the case of the Costa Coffee application in Chichester. Why two different views?

Council policy has meant that we have been unable to sell the properties even though they have now been on the market for nearly five years.As the cottages are loss making we cannot afford to continue to run them as a business.