Hunston

6.77 "Protecting existing views and particularly those of Chichester Cathedral spire and Hunston Copse"

6.73 "Review sets a requirement of around 200"

These aims are at odds with the plots CDC has identified for possible development. Please see photos of views between Cathedral Spire and Hunston Copse attached. These views are across the plot labelled HHN007 by CDC.

6.77 "Reducing and providing adequate mitigation impacts for existing biodiversity species and their habitats which are native to the areas of Hunston. Design will need to apply appropriate protection/enhancement of all identified species and habitats; "

Mitigation is not good enough! NPPF states "109. The planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by .... " Enhance is the word.

The number of houses seems excessive. I would question the methodology of how this figure was arrived at.

The gap between Hunston and Mundham should be considered and meaningful to ensure separate indentities are maintained.

Key views to Chichester cathedral from footpaths must be maintained and protected.

Existing traffic problems hugely increased since opening of Chichester Free School, affecting B2145, B2166, A27. Constant flow of huge container trucks and many tractors on B2145. Traffic increases in summer months result in traffic jams. Proposed building in Hunston, Selsey, Pagham would increase traffic, in the region of 1700 vehicles, converging on roundabout north of Hunston, and increase pollution. Lack of pavements in Hunston already endangers lives.
Local primary schools are fully subscribed to. Ferrying children farther afield will add to traffic problems.
The copse and green spaces support a wide range of wildlife, give areas for walking, encouraging exercise.

- whilst I accept the need for increased housing nationally and locally, Hunston is not an appropriate area for this proposed development
- there has been a large increase in housing in Hunston in recent years, but with no consideration to improving the infrastructure required for safe living.
- footpaths are not maintained adequately to ensure safe passage of residents, especially on the eastern side footpath leading from the north to the playing field,
- there us no safe crossing from the west dude to the playing field.
- the footpath leading from the Whyke roundabout to the village is now blocked daily by cars parked for the Free school, thus endangering safe walking .
- considerable building in Selsey as well as the huge growth of the nursery and packing enterprise has created an enormous increase in traffic, including large lorries and farm machinery.
- the local school is full to capacity and presumably there are no plans for development
- the nearest GP surgery, south of Chichester, is already overstretched.
- Hunston is historically a rural community, the spirit and wellbeing of which is at risk of being undermined.
- within the proposed 200 houses it is not clear what percentage will be for much needed social housing.

The proposal for 200 additional houses represents a grossly disproportionate development for Hunston. It will alter the ethos of the village irreparably, turning it from rural dwelling to a conurbation of Chichester. The B2145 is entirely unable to accommodate the sheer volume of traffic to which it is already subjected; noise and air pollution levels are concerning. Hunston's label as 'service village' is a disservice for a village with a close community of people. The proposal feels arbitrary in its nature, and as such the reasons for objection are broad.

Hannah Farish
Resident of Hunston Village centre

Hunston resident and Local hospital employee.
Local infrastructure plan doesn't consider the impact on the local hospital - as an employee of the local NHS hospital we struggle with the current local population demand on the services - 200 families! - not including the plans for the housing developments in the other surrounding areas! - this needs to be carefully considered and plans for for increasing hospital capacity before ANY further housing plans be made!

Local Hunston resident living alongside the B2145.
Impact on traffic through flow not considered in the plans - speed, volume and continuous flow - making any extra car volume (potentially 400 extra cars) not reasonable, even creating access onto the road from the proposed building areas would mean new and old residents would struggle to get out onto the B2145.

Hunston resident living on the B2145.
My House, as other residents living alongside the road currently feel the foundations shake with the current heavy tonnage and volume of traffic - residents would see this getting worse. Foundations and house structure integrity will be seriously compromised - what is in the plan to consider this ensuring current house values and safety do not deteriorate?

The suggested sites for more housing in Hunston are on arable land which we cannot afford to lose if we are to continue feeding the population of this country. This country is incapable of producing enough food as things stand. We do not wish to increase our dependency on imports. The Manhood peninsula is known as "God's own country" because of the excellent arable land and the added light which bounces off the sea, encouraging plant growth. Therefore I object to so much land around Hunston being designated for housing which I do not think we need in this area.

The B2145 link road between Hunston & Seley is extremely busy at the best of times particularly around the rush hour periods and daily during the summer months. Another 200 homes with all the additional vehicles associated with them will simply add to further congestion. There have already been a number of recent accidents on this road and more traffic will only make this worse.

6.71 - The B2145 is hugely busy everyday of the year particularly during peak periods and daily through the summer months. The queuing time to get out of Hunston across the A27 to Chichester can take over 20 minutes. Adding a further 200 homes in Hunston and 250 homes in Selsey with all the additional vehicles will make this road chaotic! There have already been a number of recent accidents and this is only likely to increase with the heavier traffic.

6.72 - The area known as the Hunston Copse and the surrounding fields are visited daily by many walkers. Local schools also use these areas for field studies and outdoor activities. There is considerable wildlife in this area predominantly deer, grass snakes, frogs and birds including pheasants. We often see groups of deer running in and out of the Hunston Copse.

6.73 - 200 additional homes is disproportionate to the current size of the village and the existing facilities. We are already paying huge council tax bills and we strongly object to any increase the new development.

6.74 - The fields marked for development is good agricultural land and consideration should be given to retain this for the future. There is considerable surrounding land that is waste land and maybe development in these areas would be more beneficial.

6,75 - To the best of my knowledge this so far does not appear to have happened. A development application was made without the knowledge of the Parish!

6,76 - Please refer to point 6.73 above.

6.77 - Please see all of the above points. In addition to the above, the existing views of Chichester Cathedral and Hunston Copse will be destroyed. The number of homes is completely disproportionate to the size of the village as it stands and it will COMPLETELY CHANGE THE CULTURE OF HUNSTON VILLAGE. We would also like to add our considerable concern over the additional pollution the proposed new development will inevitably cause for the residents of the village and the huge amount of wildlife that also lives here.

Planning Policy:

It seems the rationale for building 200 houses in Hunston is that land could be made available. The Housing needs for Hunston are in fact much lower

Hunston doesn't want the housing development and no consideration seems to have been given to the village's needs. Instead CDC has invited land owners to submit plans, with no consultation with the village whatsoever.

The Housing Economic Needs Availability Assessment (HELAA) published in August 2018, allocated 176 houses to Hunston and 375 to Mundham. In October, CDC planners announce that 200 houses will be allocated to Hunston and 50 to Mundham. This reversal of the HELAA, with no rationale given is unacceptable.

The Sustainability Appraisal of the Site Allocation: DPD January 2018 states that there "are multiple options for Hunston - for a relatively small amount of housing to meet a local housing need". What has changed? Where is the analysis of local housing need?

The CDC Landscape Capacity Study November 2018 identifies at section CH30 that sub-area CH30 is medium capacity but it is recommended that only a small amount of development may be accommodated around the existing settlement and provided it is informed by further landscape and visual impact assessment and sensitively integrated into the landscape.
Once again what has changed? The development on land proposed by the Church Commissioners is not a small development.

Housing:

200 houses would increase the size of Hunston by 35%. This isn't development, its social change.

The suggested sites are currently arable land, using both for grazing cattle and crop production. In our small island, we cannot afford to give up productive land.

Hunston is a semi-rural village, this development would change its identity to a dormitory for Chichester

This development would be the start of joining Hunston to Mundham meaning that both would lose their identity

Traffic:

The problem of the A27 remains unresolved at present. Currently it is increasingly grid-locked and access from the B2145 becomes more and more difficult.

Building 250 houses in Selsey, 200 houses in Hunston and 400 houses in Pagham will result in around 1700 more cars using the B2166 from Pagham and the B2145 from Selsey.

At present, the B2145 is the fourth busiest B-road in the UK. How can planners contemplate adding 900 cars to the B2145 and 800 cars to the B2166, all meeting at the roundabout north of Hunston?

The population of the Manhood Peninsula doubles in the summer, the current road infrastructure cannot cope, building more houses will result in permanent traffic jams and increased pollution

Local Plan P.130 states that the following should be considered: "Providing adequate mitigation for potential off-site traffic impacts upon the B2145". As CDC seem to have no effective engagement with Highways, and no recognition of the traffic pressures on Hunston, this seems like wishful thinking.

Chichester Free School has created serious traffic problems in the afternoons, when children are being collected. Adding 1700 cars will mean traffic becoming increasingly delayed along the A27 as well as the B2166 and B2145

Air Pollution:

This increase in traffic and housing will result in increased air pollution, damaging people's health and breaking environmental guidelines

Infrastructure:

Parts of Hunston are already in a Flood Risk Area. The water table is high and 200 more houses will only increase the flooding risk.

There are no indications that the current sewage, drainage and water utilities will be able to cope with this development

Services - Schools:

Currently Mundham, Sidlesham and Chichester Free School are full at entry level. The Free School has a county wide catchment, so there is no guarantee of places for any children from the new housing proposal. As a result, children will need to be driven to schools further away, resulting in yet more traffic problems

Medical Services:

There are two GP surgeries on the Manhood Peninsula, one in Selsey and one in Witterings. All residents in Hunston use GP surgeries in Chichester. Where will 200 new families register?

Environment: Ancient Woodland:

The Local Plan on P.130 states that the following should be considered:
"Protecting existing views and particularly those of Chichester Cathedral spire and Hunston Copse"

Current residents of Southover Way and Meadow Close will lose their existing views of Hunston Copse with the proposed new housing.

The proposed 15 metre margin to protect Hunston Copse is woefully inadequate

Environment: Wildlife
Hunston Copse and surrounding fields support a wide range of wildlife from water voles, adders, grass snakes and slow worms to hares, deer, foxes. People move to Hunston for green spaces, not to have them taken away.

Paragraph 6.77 includes the specific matters to be taken into account including "protecting existing views and particularly those of Chichester Cathedral spire and Hunston Copse" and also notes "Particular regard should be made to the designated Site of Nature Conservation Interest and Ancient Woodland known as Hunston Copse". Yet there is no mention of these points in Policy AL11 which specifies the requirements to be taken into account when accessing plans for development.

The proposal will impact the village, those living in the village, those travelling through, and those enjoying the facilities within the village by the way the extra traffic and residents

We know the extra traffic will simply cause more, and longer tailbacks, and consequently delays and more frustration for users.

With more users will come more accidents, and amplify the points raised above, while also putting users at the risk of injury, including potential fatalities

We have already noticed the impact the Free School has had on the village, and this proposal will simply be an proposal to far

Extra homes will involve extra vehicles on an already busy main thoroughfare. If 200 homes are built this will increase traffic by at least 100 cars alone. With the proposed increase in homes in Selsey this traffic and increased traffic from new homes in Selsey, will merge on the busy B2145 and at the small roundabout on the B2166. There has recently been a death caused by reckless driving, in Hunston. Previously a child has been injured as a result of the traffic. More traffic will result in the likelihood of further accidents.
Both the B2166 and B2145 frequently become choked with traffic when the A27 has traffic congestion as a result of traffic accidents/roadworks and holiday/Goodwood traffic

I Tony Horne, and also on behalf of my wife Susan Horne, both domiciled in Meadow Close Hunston wish to object to the proposal of 200 houses being built in our village.
When we decided to move to Hunston 4 years ago we understood that we were moving to a small village not an urban sprawl connected to Chichester, which would be the case should this development go ahead.
Where we are located in Meadow close the water table is extremely high. Also our beautiful country views would be compromised not to mention the devaluation of our properties.