Developer signs agreement to strengthen protection of environment

The South Downs National Park Authority has negotiated a binding legal agreement with developers City and Country over the development of the King Edward VII sanatorium near Midhurst, West Sussex.

‘The agreement significantly strengthens measures to conserve and enhance the listed building and the environment, says Andrew Shaxson, Chair of the South Downs National Park Authority Planning Committee. ‘It includes protection for ground nesting birds on a nearby nationally protected Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) through a ban on the keeping of cats on much of the site, and the developers restoring part of the adjacent heathlands.’

‘I welcome the pledge on the part of City and Country that they will not be seeking further development on the site,’ says Mr Shaxson. ‘I am also pleased that they have agreed to participate in a liaison panel with local people to ensure that there is a mechanism by which issues that might arise during and after the period of development can be dealt with.’

On Monday 14th November, the Planning Committee of the South Downs National Park Authority gave conditional approval to the planning application submitted by City and Country Group for the King Edward VII site near Midhurst, West Sussex.

The Committee permitted the development to preserve the unique buildings and gardens of King Edward VII, an Arts and Crafts style hospital which closed in 2006. The site had been a busy hospital until its closure and had a number of planning applications granted by Chichester District Council, the planning authority prior to the establishment of the South Downs National Park Authority in April 2011.

The South Downs National Park Authority Planning Committee had refused previous applications for the site in July 2011. In November 2011 the Committee gave conditional approval to the new application and listed building consent. The legal agreement attached to the planning application ensures that the developers will carry out key parts of the restoration of the historic listed buildings and gardens before starting to build the market housing which will fund the renovation.

The Planning Committee was concerned that the measures submitted in the application to protect wildlife, minimise light pollution and guarantee tree cover were not strong enough. The Director of Planning was tasked with negotiating a strengthened binding legal agreement (a Section 106 agreement) with the developers to cover these and a range of other issues. This agreement has now been signed.

Key elements of the Section 106 agreement:

Improved conservation and protection of wildlife
• No cats to be kept in the Sanatorium apartments
• No cats to be kept in any other properties within 500m of the SSSI
• Restoration of overgrown heathland between the site and National Trust owned heathland to the west of the site
• Restoration of the measured walks

Public access
• New footpaths to be registered public rights of way
• Access to the restored sanatorium building two weekends a year
• Doctor's surgery that will allow some public use

Trees and planting
• Native species to be used in planting schemes
• Protection of existing woodland

Other
• Lighting condition to restrict location and glare
• Some housing to be built to a higher level of sustainability (Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4).
• Bond to ensure restoration works should timing of the development alter
• Commitment by the developer not to apply for more development on site.

Contact Details:

For more information please contact the press office on:

Tel: 01730 811785, Mobile: 07557 853277

Email: press@southdowns.gov.uk