Green light for sustainable community in Runcton 

Outline planning permission has been granted for a high-quality residential neighbourhood on land at Wheatlands, in Runcton, Chichester – following our support on behalf of Gleeson Land.

The 6.1-hectare site – currently occupied by an eight-bedroom mansion with a tennis court and swimming pool – will be transformed to deliver up to 92 new homes, 30% of which will be affordable, including a proportion of low-cost home ownership units.

The scheme will offer a variety of building types set within a landscaped environment that retains and enhances existing trees, hedgerows and other ecological features. Public open spaces, children’s play areas, sustainable urban drainage systems, landscaping and biodiversity enhancements are also key components of the development.

Vehicular access will be provided via a new priority junction on Lagness Road, complemented by pedestrian and cycle routes linking Lagness Road and Saltham Lane. These connections will give residents off-road access to local services, bus stops and the consented Charman’s Fields development to the north. Parking provision will also include electric vehicle charging points and secure cycle storage.

Josh Mellor, planning director, who led the application, said: “We’re delighted to have secured resolution to grant on this non-allocated site just two months after the local plan was adopted, and to have received planning permission less than two months later.

“Working closely with council officers, we demonstrated both the immediate need for new homes and how the proposals align with the district’s spatial strategy. The council recognised that planning does not stop on adoption of the local plan, and by approving development here, housing delivery in the short term will increase.

“Achieving this milestone 12 months from submission is a testament to the hard work of the team at Gleeson and our consultants.”

The Wheatlands scheme addresses Chichester District Council’s housing priorities, supporting the delivery of homes in a sustainable location.

Economic benefits include job creation during construction and increased local spending, while social benefits comprise affordable housing and public open spaces that encourage vibrant, healthy communities.

Environmentally, the proposals are designed to sit sensitively within their surroundings, delivering landscape and ecological enhancements that achieve a quantified biodiversity net gain.

Gleeson Land has since launched its site to the market, with an expectation reserved matter submission will be made within 18 months of the approval, reflecting the company’s strong track record of facilitating efficient housing delivery.

The application benefitted from the support of the wider team, including planning associate director Julie McLaughlin and socio-economic planner Isabelle Woodville-Hill, who helped shape the proposals and provided essential expertise on planning and community benefits.