A developer has been urged to back down over plans to build hundreds of homes on greenbelt land.

Worthing Borough Council is continuing its fight to prevent Persimmon Homes building 475 homes on 20 acres of land at Chatsmore Farm between Worthing and Ferring.

In March 2021, the council rejected the planning application submitted by Persimmon.

However, this decision was later challenged by the housebuilders who appealed and were supported by the planning inspectorate. The council then appealed itself in the hope of going back to its initial decision and a bench of three judges at the High Court eventually ruled in favour of the council in June.

In a written statement Judge Sir Keith Lindblom said the High Court had been right to overturn the decision of the planning inquiry because the planning inspector had not explained why he thought the development would not damage the national park.

As a result, the appeal remains undetermined and will be decided by a new planning inquiry with a new planning inspector appointed.

The appeal will now be considered at a new public inquiry “in the coming months”.

Worthing's planning committee has agreed new grounds for why the application should not be allowed, including that the development lies outside the built-up area, would damage the designated green gap and would negatively affect the setting of South Downs National Park.

A Persimmon Homes spokesman said the council’s court bid was successful due to a “procedural shortcoming” from the inspectorate rather than a judgement on the suitability of the development.

Leader of Worthing Borough Council Councillor Dr Beccy Cooper said: “It's really disappointing that Persimmon continues to push ahead with this appeal despite the local plan inspector agreeing with the council and our communities that it should remain an undeveloped green gap between Worthing and Ferring.

“We have had to spend significant time and money to defend the green gap in multiple court cases now, but Persimmon refuses to get the message.

“We know there is an acute need for new homes in Worthing, and we are working hard to get genuinely affordable, sustainable homes built in the right places.

“We have said it before and we will say it again - Chatsmore Farm is not for housing and we will fight to protect it.”

The Argus: Persimmon Homes wants to build almost 500 homes Persimmon Homes wants to build almost 500 homes (Image: Persimmon Homes)

A spokesman for Persimmon Homes said: “We are pleased that the leader of the council recognises the acute need for more new homes in Worthing because that has always been what we are hoping to deliver, more affordable homes for local people.

“The council’s legal challenge was successful on the basis of a procedural shortcoming rather than a fundamental judgement on the issue of housing need or principle of development. 

“The standard legal process, following this technical error, is for the application to be reconsidered by a new planning inspector and that is the process which is being followed by the independent Planning Inspectorate.”