Summersdale Neighbourhood Character Appraisal - Future Plans

Summersdale lies to the north of significant development schemes
involving the re-generation of Graylingwell Hospital, Roussillon Barracks
and surplus NHS land at St Richards Hospital. The NE Chichester
Development Brief published by the Chichester District Council provided
detailed guidance for these areas, but they do not exist in isolation from
the rest of Summersdale and interaction is inevitable on issues such as
schooling, local transport, cycle and pedestrian paths, and integral
highway policies. The interests and concerns of local residents can be
expressed through a variety of channels including the SRA’s membership
of the NE Forum with its access to the landowners, developers and local
statutory bodies. Suffice to say there is a need now for harmony along
common borders, even if only from one side of a road to the other.

Within the historic core of Summersdale there are no sites currently
available for significant development, nor for sensible infilling, but
opportunities could arise from demolition of individual properties — or so
called garden grabbing on brownfield sites. ln-fills out of character that
destroy established street scenes, or sit uneasily in them, could also arise.
Such activities would generate fervent opposition from those dedicated to
conserving the character of Summersdale, and further strengthen a
growing resistance to the demolition of family homes and inappropriate
applications.

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Delivering Development Opportunities (DDO)

Immediately to the north of Summersdale, outside the City''s northern
boundary and in the strategic Chichester-Lavant gap, lies Hunters Rest. It
is a former agricultural holding that was designated in the informal DDO
document as a reasonable development Option up to 2018 for a mix of
residential and business uses. The site was categorised as ‘not highly
visible and could accommodate residential development’ of up to 95
homes, but the local view is that it is a site of major significance to
Summersdale and the northern approach to the City. As such, it would
present a major challenge to the requirements of PPS3 for designs
sympathetic to local character and the adjacent historic suburb.

The DDO also listed No.18 Lavant Road as a windfall option for 11 homes
to 2018. With several Tree Preservation Orders on the site, a much lower
density of good quality detached houses with gardens would be more in
character with the surrounding area, and ensure that the impact on the
trees was mitigated.

Loss of Large Family Homes

In the following chapter a case is made for a policy of conservation and its
concomitant protection of Summersdale’s historic suburb. Of immediate
concern is the need to resist the demolition of individual family homes
with large gardens and their replacement with higher density
developments, thereby changing the character of the area for ever,
together with much of its history. Piecemeal development and minor
alteration can lead to a cumulative adverse effect on the appearance of
the street scene, with precedent invariably producing a domino effect.
Replacing gardens with concrete and hard-standings brings additional
problems to wild life and run-off drainage. On all accounts, the historic
suburb of Summersdale needs no re-generation per se, and market
demand for new homes should be met by the development of c.1400
homes on Graylingwell and the Barracks.

The proposal to transfer the Lavant Road Surgery from No.8 to a bespoke
PCT Health Care Centre on NHS land at St Richards risks demolition and
redevelopment of the current site. If allied to the potential plot at No.6,
the development opportunity for these important sites would be
significant, and present an enormous threat to the character of the area
comparable to that posed by the unsuccessful Sunrise application.

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NE Chichester Greenfield Site