Plans for 165 new homes on land off Madgwick Lane in Chichester have been approved by Chichester District Council’s Planning Committee, paving the way for Persimmon Homes South Coast to start work later this year.

Located near the South Downs National Park and Goodwood Estate, the scheme will deliver 115 open-market homes and 50 affordable properties for low-cost ownership, together with landscaped green space, play areas and a series of ecological enhancements designed to boost biodiversity.

The application was shaped through close engagement with council officers to ensure the design responded sensitively to its surroundings and addressed key technical issues.

Acoustic mitigation and building design measures were introduced to manage the site’s relationship with Goodwood Estate and avoid overheating. The design team worked with specialist consultants to model aircraft and circuit noise, design the layout to respond to noise sensitive areas, alongside introducing enhanced glazing and ventilation to ensure homes maintain comfortable internal conditions year-round.

A comprehensive drainage strategy responds to the site’s setting alongside the River Lavant, combining sustainable drainage features with targeted ecological enhancements to manage runoff and reinforce the river corridor’s natural value.

National planning and development consultancy Lichfields advised Persimmon Homes on planning, working as part of a multi-disciplinary consultant team. Lichfields worked extensively with the council, Persimmon and technical consultees, and supported negotiations on affordable housing tenure.

Darren Dancey, Divisional Operations Director at Persimmon Homes, said: “We’re delighted to have received planning permission for this high-quality development of 165 much-needed new homes in Chichester. Our scheme will deliver energy-efficient homes, wide areas of green space and affordable routes to home ownership for local people, while contributing to improvements on the A27 and other local priorities.”

The development will also deliver almost £2 million in local infrastructure and public service contributions, including £640,000 towards highways upgrades on the A27.

Nick Kirby, Planning Director in Lichfields’ Thames Valley office, said: “This was a sensitive site, requiring several carefully thought-out technical responses to respond to its setting near Goodwood and the River Lavant.

“Through close engagement with the council and specialist consultants, we were able to achieve design quality alongside technical solutions to manage acoustic impacts, flood risk and ecology. The outcome is a well-considered scheme, providing high quality housing in an area where this is much needed.”