Given that Lawrence Farm was previously included in a proposed allocation for development, it is considered that land at Lawrence Farm can assist in the Council’s ambitions of augmenting the capacity of the A27, through facilitating improvements to Fishbourne Roundabout and can provide an addition to the delivery of housing in Fishbourne Parish. It should therefore be included in the Local Plan.

The Berkeley Group is the sole owner of Lawrence Farm, which is located directly adjacent to the A27 Fishbourne Roundabout to the south of Chichester.

The site is located in close proximity to the edge Chichester City, which as discussed above, is the most sustainable settlement in the district. The site therefore represents a suitable location for development, in accordance with the spatial strategy.

The site has previously been found suitable, was included as part of site allocation AL6 in the Reg 18 draft plan and would assist in the delivery of the Stockbridge Link Road. However, in isolation the site has been discounted for the sole reason that the site in isolation is not considered suitable due to significant flood risk as a result of climate change.

This is the only reasoning given for the site being discounted and should therefore be considered suitable in all other respects. As such, any part of the site that is not within the perceived area of flood risk as a result of climate change is unconstrained and therefore suitable for development.

An area to the north of the site is unconstrained by flooding as a result of climate change and can accommodate circa 25 dwellings. This could provide a small contribution towards the shortfall of housing in the District and should be included as an allocation to Fishbourne Parish under Policy H3, which should increased by 25 houses to reflect the suitability and capacity of the site.

The site is owned by a single landowner and is therefore available.

Development upon the unconstrained part of the site would not prejudice the delivery of the northern most section of the Stockbridge Relief Road, connecting the A27/A259 Fishbourne Roundabout and the A286 Birdham Road in the future. Any small scale development on the site would not prejudice the land for the relief road.

Additionally, paragraph 5.2.21 suggests proposals to safeguard land for upgrades to the Fishbourne roundabout. Land at Lawrence Farm is directly adjacent to the Fishbourne roundabout and can therefore be utilised effectively to facilitate future junction improvements.