New employment space is given the green light in South Downs National Park
May 17, 2023
A high-quality mixed-use development offering homes and office space has been approved for a West Sussex village.
The Authority’s Planning Committee voted to approve plans submitted by MJH Executive Homes for seven residential and seven commercial units in place of the vacant and derelict glasshouses at Hillside Nursery, in the Bury Common area of Bury.
The site is a protected employment site under the made Bury Neighbourhood Plan.
However, when the business closed and no offers were forthcoming for a commercial-only use, a mixed use with a commercial focus was agreed in principle.
The parish council was involved in pre-application discussions and, after the initial submission was considered overdeveloped and too suburban, National Park planners worked with the applicant to help create a landscape-led scheme.
The revised proposal found a positive balance between a wide range of commercial and environmental considerations and has been designed to enhance the local area. The housing is a mixture of affordable and market units, ranging in size from three to four bedrooms, arranged around an attractive central yard.
The layout has been inspired by the area’s working agricultural heritage.
Important vegetative boundaries will be retained and new planting introduced, delivering over 30 per cent biodiversity net gain.
The project includes approximately 500sqm (net) of business space in seven units, starting from 53sqm, with external amenity space for employees. These facilities would be suitable for small-scale and low-impact office, research and development and light industry uses for which there is local demand.
Naomi Langford, Major Projects Officer, said: “This is a well-conceived contemporary scheme that has been driven by a solid understanding of the special qualities of the site and surroundings. The commercial and affordable provisions are of particular value to the National Park’s economy and communities.”