Chichester District Council planning officers have backed Martin Grant Homes’ outline application to build 223 homes on land at Loxwood Farm Place, off High Street in Loxwood, northeast of Billingshurst, subject to a legal agreement and conditions.
The proposal includes a nursery, open space, a play area and allotments, with at least 40 per cent of the homes intended to be affordable.
Access would be from High Street through a separate housing development that has already been permitted.
A new pedestrian and cycle route is proposed alongside an existing footpath, while a bridleway within the site would be upgraded.
Residents have lodged 124 objections to the scheme, with many focusing on concerns about wastewater capacity, pressure on services, traffic and the loss of agricultural land.
The officers’ report says Loxwood’s wastewater treatment works does not currently have capacity for the proposed development and that the timing of improvements is uncertain.
It suggests funding for additional capacity has been identified within Southern Water’s 2025 to 2030 business plan.
Detailed matters for the development including the layout, appearance, scale and landscaping would need further approval if outline permission is granted.
Planning officers have proposed conditions requiring further information about capacity and upgrades when detailed plans are submitted.
They have also suggested that before anyone moves in, capacity would have to be demonstrated or temporary measures agreed for a maximum of 12 months.
The site is outside the village settlement boundary but is identified for housing in the emerging neighbourhood plan.
Officers say 165 homes remain to be delivered from 220 allocated to Loxwood under the local plan, and the proposal would provide 58 more than the remaining requirement.
A final decision will be made by the council’s planning committee on November 4.
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