Rabbit Island, Rear of 84 Brooks Lane, Bognor Regis, PO22 8DN

Planning appeal 3371932 at Rabbit Island, Rear of 84 Brooks Lane, Bognor Regis, PO22 8DN (Arun District Council) was dismissed on 19 December 2025 by Inspector Cragg D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the appeal site is suitable for Gypsy and Traveller residential caravans (mobile homes), having regard to its location, the proposed land use, and the amount of development.

application for permission in principle for a 3 pitch Traveller caravan site

Authority: Arun District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: caravan-gypsy · Minor traveller and caravan pitches
Inspector: Cragg D
Postcode: PO22 8DN

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the appeal site is suitable for Gypsy and Traveller residential caravans (mobile homes), having regard to its location, the proposed land use, and the amount of development

What decided it

The sequential test for flood risk was not satisfied, and the site's location in Flood Zone 3a with highly vulnerable use, combined with significant harm to neighbouring living conditions, provided a strong reason for refusal that outweighed the unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches.

The considerable weight given to unmet Gypsy and Traveller accommodation need and the social and equality benefits of providing pitches did not outweigh the strong reason for refusal based on flood risk protection and the significant harm to neighbouring residents' living conditions.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy H SP5Policy W DM2Policy D DM1Policy QE SP1
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11Paragraph 13

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 Arun District Council

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

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Dismissed29 July 20266007006
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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.