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Dismissed26 June 20253351194

Gospel Hall, Bedford Row, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 3DR

Planning appeal 3351194 at Gospel Hall, Bedford Row, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 3DR (Worthing Borough Council) was dismissed on 26 June 2025 by Inspector Willis S, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether there are reasonably available sites appropriate for the proposal in areas at lower risk of flooding.

demolition of existing buildings and erection of a part four and part five-storey building comprising commercial and community units (E class and F1) at ground floor and 9x flats (C3) above

Authority
Worthing Borough Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
Willis S
Postcode
BN11 3DR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • Whether there are reasonably available sites appropriate for the proposal in areas at lower risk of flooding
  • The effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including heritage assets
  • The effect of the proposal on the provision of community facilities
  • The effect of the proposal on the living conditions of nearby occupiers with regard to privacy, daylight and sunlight
  • Whether the proposal makes appropriate provision in respect of accessibility for future occupiers and users

What decided it

The proposal fails the sequential test for flood risk as no reasonably available sites in lower-risk areas have been demonstrated, and the considerable harm to designated heritage assets and their settings is not outweighed by the public benefits offered.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy DM20Policy DM5Policy DM24Policy DM8
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in Worthing

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

  1. Dismissed1 October 20266012522
    Units 1-2, 3 Meadow Road Industrial Estate, Worthing, BN11 2RU
  2. Dismissed14 September 20266010518
    4 Offington Court, Worthing, BN14 9PF
  3. Dismissed4 September 20266007549
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  4. Dismissed7 August 20266009240
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  5. Dismissed30 July 20266010786
    24 Cissbury Gardens, Offington, Worthing, BN14 0DX

The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.