It is most likely that any Planning Applications would be rejected by the local planning authorities and Planning Appeals will be involved. If a deal was agreed it would probably take about 5 years before the club would be in a position to move from Roundstone Lane to Sea Lane, Ferring and during a major part of that time Pitches 4 & 5 would be unavailable to club’s use. 10. Chatsmore Farm, Goring (Part 2) – AGAIN ! In March 2017 Persimmons contacted the club to advise that the site at Goring was once again available for discussion and consideration by the club. Persimmons explained that Worthing Borough Council was desperate for more housing and, as a result, Persimmons would be submitting a Planning Application in early 2020 for development of the site to included approximately 470 residential units to the south of the Rife together with two or three pitches (two being floodlight) plus clubhouse and car parking on the south side of the Rife leaving grass pitches to the north of the Rife. Persimmons planned to talk to Worthing Borough Council about a possible combined residential and recreational use of the land south of the Rife. The Futures Group discussed possible layouts with Persimmons and preliminary plans were drawn up. Persimmons explained that the Planning Application would be prepared on the assumption the application would go to Appeal. On 5 th March 2020 the Futures Group had a meeting with Persimmons and a revised plan showing residential development to the south plus WRFC’s facilities to both south and north was discussed but not finalised. Despite these ongoing discussions, in August 2020 Persimmons submitted a Planning Application (for the south side of the Rife for 475 dwellings) that made absolutely no provision for the club south of the Rife. The Futures Group informed Persimmons that that was not acceptable because, as a minimum, part of the club’s facilities would have to be south of the Rife; the allocation of land to the club on the north side only was totally unacceptable. In October 2020 the Futures Group re- iterated that the club required, as ‘Minimum Requirements’ “some land to the south of the Rife to provide three full-sized pitches (at least one of which to be laid North/South) plus clubhouse, spectator stand and some car parking.” Persimmons replied that that option “can be explored further once the outcome of the Appeal is known.” Persimmons’ Planning Application failed and went to Appeal. The Appeal Decision is awaited. As a result of Persimmons’ actions, the Futures Group concluded that it was highly unlikely the Persimmons would offer a suitable part of the Goring site that would provide an acceptable relocation site for the club. If an acceptable proposal was eventually made by Persimmons then any planning application would be protracted and certainly subject to an appeal procedure.
WRFC Futures Group
November 2021
Brian Peart (Chairman), Neil Carter, John Cole, Barny Hall, Nigel Lyons, Tim Mackew, Ian McGowan & Bob Rogers
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