This landscape-led scheme will deliver a flexible central community hub building for residents use with a range of open space types delivering biodiversity, social spaces and play, all managed through a Community Trust stewardship model. The scheme will also deliver and manage over 30 hectares of informal public parkland and community woodland along with a nature reserve and new school sports facilities.

The appeal and costs decisions can be found here.

Our audit concluded the approach taken in the refused outline application was sound and questioned the judgements made by the LPA regarding local townscape character, density and connectivity.

Robust evidence was duly prepared, including a historic analysis of how the settlement has evolved and how this related to townscape character, whilst highlighting the negative impact of (historic) accretive development within the settlement not facilitating a well connected settlement structure, which the appeal scheme made steps to correct.

The public inquiry took place in late January and early February, led by Peter Goatley KC with a professional team including including Stantec (planning), RPS (housing supply), CSA (landscape), iTransport (highways/connectivity) and Tetlow King (affordable housing).

The appeal was permitted on 6 March 2024 (see decision here).

The Inspector agreed with our evidence regarding the existing townscape character and the scheme impacts, as well as how the outline application should be interpreted at detailed design stages.

The site had been promoted unsuccessfully for a number of years and we were asked to audit and establish a fresh approach for the site. Our concept was for a landscape and heritage inspired community, based on a restored walled garden forming a new community hub owned and managed (with assistance) by residents. This facility sits alongside the landowners legacy aspirations to provide a village hall and nursery within the community hub for the benefit of the existing village.

Working closely with heritage consultants we have promoted a suite of enhancements across the estate and structured the position of development to not be visible in key views where appreciation of the Listed Building and its setting.

Our concept established a number of conceptual layers that enabled all design decisions to respond to, and accentuate, the site’s landscape and heritage assets.

This exercise led to the preparation of a detailed planning application, alongside an extensive consultation exercise both with stakeholders and local people, working in partnership with a wider professional team involving GSA, HCUK, iTransport, RPS, JNP, Pro Vision and Pegasus.

The scheme for 104 dwellings, community hall, nursery and walled garden was permitted unanimously at planning committee in November 2023 and we are now working with Cala to help deliver what will be an exemplary addition to Worting.