Building work and planning

Most people here improve their houses at some point, and the Association is not against that. What we care about is that the work suits the place and that the cost of any damage to the roads and drains falls on the project causing it rather than on everybody.

Getting in touch early makes all of this easier. Almost every difficulty we see started with somebody finding out too late.

Before you draw anything

Read the Village Design Statement and give a copy to your architect or designer. Arun District Council adopted it as supplementary planning guidance, so it genuinely affects what gets approved.

Then talk to your neighbours and your Road Representative about scale, layout and access, before an application goes in.

Planning permission

Major work, including demolition, new build, extensions, changes to roof height and dormer windows, needs full planning permission from Arun District Council under their development control procedures.

Permitted development rights let some work go ahead without an application. Those rights are set out in government legislation, and although local authorities can remove them in sensitive areas, that has not been done for the Area of Special Character.

So permitted development rights do apply here. We would still ask you to follow the Village Design Statement, because the character of the estate does not protect itself.

Drainage

See drainage for how the estate’s system works.

Your responsibilities to the estate

Building work brings heavy vehicles onto roads that were never built for them. Damage to surfaces, verges and drains is normal rather than exceptional, and often does not show up until months later.

If you are having work done:

• Consult your neighbours and your Road Representative in advance.
• Take reasonable steps to limit damage to the roads, verges and drains.
• If damage happens, tell your Road Representative and put it right at your own or your contractor’s expense.

The building works charge

Where heavy vehicles are involved, a building works charge applies. It is a non-returnable financial bond that covers potential damage to road surfaces, drains and verges, and it is set out in an agreement between you and the Association.

The point of it is straightforward. Without it, the cost of one household’s extension falls on every household’s road charge.

When work goes beyond what was permitted

Occasionally work goes ahead that falls outside permitted development or outside what was approved. Freestanding advertisements, balconies above single storey extensions, large outbuildings with living accommodation and some dormers are the usual examples.

When that happens we will talk to the owner first. Our job is to protect the character of the estate for everyone who lives here, and in almost every case a conversation settles it.

The Association’s written policy on this is available from the Secretary.