New Build Developments in Chichester
Housing developments and planning in the district
New build housing in and around Chichester has been a contentious subject for years, caught between the need for more homes and the constraints imposed by the surrounding landscape. The South Downs National Park to the north, Chichester Harbour AONB to the west and the flat agricultural land of the coastal plain to the south all present planning challenges, and the rate of new development has been slower than housing demand would suggest is needed.
Several significant developments have been built or are under construction on the edges of the city. The areas to the east and south of Chichester, outside the bypass, have seen the most activity, with estates of new houses providing a mix of market-sale homes, affordable housing and shared ownership properties. These developments typically include family houses, smaller terraces and flats, along with the open spaces, play areas and community facilities required by planning conditions.
The Whitehouse Farm development, on land east of the city, is one of the larger schemes that has added substantial numbers of new homes to the Chichester housing stock. Other developments on the southern and western edges of the city have also contributed, and the Chichester Local Plan identifies further sites for future development.
Nutrient neutrality has become a significant constraint on new building in the Chichester area. The requirement to demonstrate that new developments will not add to the nutrient loading of Chichester Harbour, which is a protected site under the Habitats Regulations, has slowed or halted many planning applications. Developers must either demonstrate neutrality through on-site measures or purchase credits from mitigation schemes, and the availability and cost of these credits has been a barrier.
The style of new builds varies. Some developments aim for a traditional Sussex vernacular, using flint, brick and tile to echo the local building character. Others are more contemporary. The quality of design and construction has been a subject of debate, with critics arguing that some estates lack the character and craftsmanship of the older housing stock.
Prices for new build homes in Chichester reflect the broader market. They are not cheap, and the premium for a new property, with its warranties, energy efficiency and modern layout, is significant. Affordable housing, provided as a condition of planning permission, helps some buyers onto the ladder, but the numbers fall well short of the total need.
The surrounding villages also see new development, though at a much smaller scale. Infill sites, conversions and small estates of a handful of homes are the typical pattern in the rural areas, where planning policies are more restrictive and community resistance to large developments is often strong.
Nutrient neutrality has become a significant constraint on new building in the Chichester area in recent years. The requirement to demonstrate that new developments will not add to the nutrient loading of Chichester Harbour, which is a protected site under the Habitats Regulations, has slowed or halted many planning applications. Developers must either demonstrate neutrality through on-site measures or purchase credits from mitigation schemes, and the availability and cost of these credits has been a practical barrier to bringing new homes forward.
Prices for new build homes in Chichester reflect the broader market and are not cheap by any standard. The premium for a new property, with its warranties, energy efficiency and modern layout, is significant. Affordable housing, provided as a condition of planning permission, helps some buyers onto the ladder, but the numbers fall well short of the total need, and the definition of affordable in this context often bears little relation to what most people would consider affordable in everyday terms.
The surrounding villages also see new development, though at a much smaller scale. Infill sites, barn conversions and small estates of a handful of homes are the typical pattern in the rural areas, where planning policies are more restrictive and community resistance to large developments is often strong and well organised.