New restaurant approved after Harvester fire

Plans have been approved for a 50-bed hotel and Harvester to replace a restaurant which burned down in West Sussex.

The two-storey Harvester in Coastguard Road, Littlehampton, was ravaged by a blaze in August 2023 and was later demolished.

The new plans are moving forward despite 34 objections, with concerns raised around parking and the appearance of the site.

The developers behind the plans have previously said the site was "perfectly located" for sustainable transport, while senior councillors have also backed the proposals.

Martin Lury, leader of Arun District Council, said: "The environment agency raised no objection whatsoever, so when you get those sort of indications, that's why the building has been allowed to go ahead."

Lury also said the council was expected the to build 1,700 homes per year under "extremely high" government targets.

"That is putting massive pressure on infrastructure and also where we actually build those homes," he said.

One objector raised concerns about flooding around the site, while another said the project made no allowance for residents and parking permit holders, and would negatively affect the environment.

Boyer, the planning company who submitted the plans on behalf of Harvester, has previously responded to these concerns, stating that there would be sufficient parking to accommodate visitors and staff, and the site was "perfectly located to encourage the use of sustainable transport methods".

They also said the project would give the site a "fresh, modern look that integrates seamlessly into the ongoing regeneration efforts in the area".

Taking all this into account, the planning committee has said they will consider the proposed revisions to the scheme and agree to draft a response to the concerns brought up in the consultation.

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