Response to applications: Ref. No's: AWDM/0663/14. AWDM/0661/14. AWDM/0603/14 and AWDM/0569/14.
Due to time constraints I’ve limited reading the vast amount material relating to the four applications, to what I thought were the headings that would stand the best chance of putting doubt in the mind of council officers as to the suitability of the development for final approval. Those headings are:
a. Flooding
b. Swallow / Sink Hole
c. Construction traffic route
d. Sustainability
e. Ecology
I have also made some recommendations.
Flooding. It is noted from research done by the British Geological Survey that some areas in the UK are not suitable for the type for sustainable drainage proposed for West Durrington. It appears that where the presence of ground water is close to the surface and there is historical evidence of a site having a ‘Swamp Land’ nature, a sustainable drainage scheme could be overwhelmed. The West Durrington site has both of those features.
The developers say they are confident their scheme will be able to meet a 1 in 100 year event plus 30% to allow for climate change. That means one exceptional rain-fall in 100 years. Records show there have been 4 of those in the last 5 years, the last being two weeks ago.
It’s disappointing the developers have failed to give any figures either for the holding capacity of their drainage scheme, or the amount of run-off from the fields at present. This is important due to their claim that the output from the sustainable scheme into the rest of Durrington’s drainage will not be more than the present field run-off.
For the above reasons the developers should enter into a scheme to compensate residents should flooding occur.
Swallow / Sink Hole. It is a matter of concern that despite numerous requests for more information on how the developers are going to stabilise the depression in the field north of Tasman Way no plans or method can be found.
With a water pumping station / bore hole near by, and by implication an aquifer, any deep drilling, high pressure injection of chemicals, or pressure compaction could contaminate the water supply. Before granting any application this matter should be resolved.
Traffic. Should approval for this development be granted, Durrington and Northbrook residents could be faced with years of heavy lorry’s rumbling past their homes? Therefore it is recommended enforcement of the following routes.
From the West on the A27. Come off the A27 at the A280 junction and proceed south on the A280 (Not Titnore lane the C37) and left onto the A259 at the roundabout. In about 1.9 miles turn left at the second roundabout into Yeoman Rd then left at the next roundabout into Romany Rd. Turn right at the roundabout into Fulbeck Ave and onto the site. Titnore lane or Titnore way must not be used.
From the West on the A259. As above from the A280 / A259 Roundabout.
From the North and East. Proceed to the A2032 Littlehampton Rd. In about 2.1 miles turn right at the second roundabout into Yeoman Rd then left at the next roundabout into Romany Rd. Turn right at the roundabout into Fulbeck Ave and onto the site.
Sustainability. It’s disappointing to read that the properties will still only be built to the 2010 Level 3 rating of energy efficiency (Level 3 means the homes would waste 75% of the energy bought. Or in other words only 25% efficient.
It’s sobering to think most of Europe builds to the equivalent of Level 5. Nearly 70% better.
With the cost of keeping a home warm continuing to rise and the urgent need to reduce our consumption of fossil fuel its madness not to use the Sun, wind and the ground it self to heat our homes. Even to build more south facing homes with large south facing windows is better than what we do at present. The offer by the developers to supply a water butt to meet their obligations is an insult.
Ecology. Despite the developers using their wealth to commission consultants who of course report the site as being generally of low importance (although they do say its possible Slow Worms are along the route of the southern access road) knowledgeable residents of the area say otherwise, with Bats, Dormice and the Continental Swallowtail Butterfly recorded on site. Clearly though, for a residents group to commission ecology consultants would be an expensive business, so they have to rely on the local authority to do due diligence despite swinging budget cuts. Of course if there is a nationally known ecological consultant who could help out please contact dontoverdevelopdurrington@gmail.com.
All the documents that relate to this case can be found at: http://planning.adur-worthing.gov.uk/online-applications/ and typing West Durrington Development into the box that appears. By clicking each of the applications and then clicking documents you should be able to examine the reports – despite the clunky nature of the council’s website.
If you click the link below you will find more information.