Villagers in Sussex are battling to save their ‘idyllic country life’ from another housing development which would build 190 new homes and ‘destroy the environment’.
Residents of Bewley Road in Angmering, West Sussex, sent more than 1700 letters objecting to the plans and have even set up a campaign group to raise money to contest the appeal.
The developers, Gleeson Land, announced they were appealing immediately after Arun District Council’s decision last month to block their plans in a six to three vote against, despite planning officers recommending approving the development.
Protect Farmland of West Bewley Road (PFWBR) are now hoping to raise enough money to fight the developers at a public inquiry later this year.
Organiser and chair, Angela Collins, looks over the fields from her front room.
Her view will completely disappear once work starts – and when it is finished all she will see are more houses.
‘The only thing between me and the development is the public footpath’, she told the Daily Mail.
‘We get bats, swans, badgers, it’s a beautiful spot. It will all be gone.’
Villagers in Sussex are battling to save their ‘idyllic country life’ from another housing development which would build 190 new homes and ‘destroy the environment’
Residents of Bewley Road in Angmering, West Sussex, sent more than 1700 letters objecting to the plans and have even set up a campaign group to raise money to contest the appeal
Protec t Farmland of West Bewley Road (PFWBR) are now hoping to raise enough money to fight the developers at a public inquiry later this year
Angela is also worried about the environmental impact the development will have, since there is only one proposed access route.
‘This development is unsustainable. This is prime, productive agricultural land.
‘Flooding is already a well known problem in Angmering. Building on farmland will only make it worse.’
Lorries and heavy machinery will have to drive down Bewley Road to get to the site – and if it is completed there are no other proposed access points for new residents.
Locals fear that allowing this development to go ahead will open the floodgates to expand the site – and the village.
Jo Thompson, a local who has joined the battle against the Bewley Road development, said: ‘I’m a town planner, I’m not anti development.
‘The planned houses are an overdevelopment in the village, they will put even more pressure on public services, increase traffic and deplete vital farmland.
‘The recently harvested farmland produces wheat and rape. This will just be another development which nibbles away at food production in this country.’
Angela Collins, head of campaign group Protect Farmland of West Brewley Road
Residents of Bewley Road are fighting plans to build 190 new homes in beautiful farmland fields next to their homes
Resident Shaun Lowndes with dog Chief – Shaun had originally moved to the area for the peace and quiet, which will disappear if the plans go ahead
The quaint centre of Angmering village in West Sussex
Jo added: ‘I am against development in the wrong places and this development is completely unsustainable in so many ways.’
Angmering has seen more than 20 housing developments spring up in recent years.
The picturesque rural area is popular with walkers and provides access to the South Downs National Park.
But its infrastructure is struggling under the weight of the rapid increase in population it has had in recent years – with the population now at 29,000 and no increase in the provision for schools.
Local resident Shaun Lownds, 58, works in security and moved to the area for the peace and quiet.
‘We came here to be close to the countryside and have the seclusion.
‘That will be all gone if this development goes ahead’, Shaun said.
He believes the local infrastructure will not be able to cope with more homes.
Angela said that Bewley Road is the ‘last bit of the village which hasn’t been developed’
Flooding on Brewley Road happens frequently even before the development – which residents fear will only worsen the environmental problems
The picturesque current view from one home in Bewley Road
‘There will be vehicles up and down all the time.
‘The road can’t cope and the lack of shops and school will be a major problem.’
Angela Collins added: ‘We haven’t got the infrastructure to support this development.
‘Kids will have to be bussed to Bognor for High School. There are already not enough doctors, and we have safety concerns over access for emergency vehicles.
‘Work has really slowed down on the latest housing development and they still have another two years building work planned,” Angela said.
Angela said that West Bewley Road is the ‘last bit of the village which hasn’t been developed’ and worries that Gleeson Land’s plans will join Bewley up with the next village – something she claims neither of them want.
But locals say the campaign has brought the community together. Around 150 villagers attended when the plans were rejected by the council on June 11.
The campaign has also received backing from their parish council.
The narrow end of Bewley Road will be a 12ft access road for the planned housing estate
Residents fear their village will be joined up to the one next door – something they say neither of them want
A poster announcing the appeal by Gleeson Land against Arun District Council’s refusal for the plan to build 190 new homes
1700 letters of objection were sent by Angmering residents in objection to the plans
A spokesman said: ‘Angmering Parish Council, in collaboration with the Protect Farmland West of Bewley Road group, is formally participating as a party for the appeal inquiry.
‘Our united stance reflects the strong and sustained community opposition, evidenced by over 1,700 submitted objections.
They added: ‘We are determined to make sure that the voices of local residents are fully represented and heard throughout the appeal process.’
A spokesman for Gleeson Land said: ‘Following the recent decision by Arun District Council, we can confirm we have lodged an appeal.
‘This appeal will be considered through the formal Public Inquiry procedure, which offers all parties an opportunity to make their individual representations.
‘We will not be making any further comments until the final decision, following the formal Public Inquiry procedure, has been made.’
Arun District Council refused planning permission for the development in June 2025.
Gleeson Land’s appeal will be heard in October 2025.
