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Updates on planning application LU/72/25/OUT – Land West of New Courtwick Lane, Littlehampton.
Application faces significant headwinds ahead of April committee
As the application moves toward Planning Committee, expected in April 2026, a number of significant concerns remain unresolved.
Arun District Council's own drainage engineers are maintaining their objection, with internal correspondence indicating the application was recommended for refusal on drainage grounds as recently as late February. The applicant's agents are understood to be seeking an urgent technical meeting to resolve the dispute before the hearing.
Local councillors are understood to be minded to speak against the application at committee. Littlehampton Town Council, as a statutory consultee, has filed a formal objection covering residential amenity, the impact on Wick shopping area, highway safety at the A259 junction, and rat-running on Courtwick Lane — and will be entitled to address the committee directly when the application is heard.
Residents wishing to attend and make their views known will have the opportunity to do so when the date is confirmed.
Formal representations submitted to planning officers and councillors
Following publication of ADC's supplementary retail advice in February 2026, formal written representations have been submitted to Arun District Council's planning team, ward councillors and members of the Planning Committee.
The representations focused on two key concerns:
- Operating hours and residential amenity — the application proposes 24-hour operation of the foodstore and drive-through units, in close proximity to residential streets including Goldcrest Avenue, Finches Close, Linnet Close and Kingfisher Drive. Residents may wish to ask the planning officer's report to address whether the submitted Noise Assessment adequately covers overnight operational impacts — including drive-through speaker noise, delivery vehicles, refrigeration plant and engine idling.
- Retail impact on Littlehampton town centre — residents may also wish to ask the officer report to clearly explain how the proposal complies with the NPPF impact test, given that the council's own consultants have raised serious concerns about harm to the town centre.
Ward councillors on Littlehampton Town Council may be contacted to ask them to consider raising a formal objection as a statutory consultee. ADC ward members can also be contacted to ask that these concerns receive proper consideration before any decision is made.
The planning team has been asked to confirm the anticipated timetable and whether the application will be determined under delegated powers or by Planning Committee.
ADC's own retail consultants raise serious concerns about town centre impact
Nexus Planning, commissioned by Arun District Council to provide independent retail and town centre planning advice, published a Supplementary Advice Report in February 2026.
In relation to the New Courtwick Lane proposal, Nexus concluded:
- The proposal is likely to have a clear adverse impact on the health of Littlehampton town centre.
- The convenience goods sector in the town centre could lose between 27% and 28% of its annual turnover as a direct result of the development.
- A significantly adverse impact on the town centre cannot be completely ruled out, particularly given concerns about the future trading viability of existing town centre grocery retailers.
- There will also be material adverse impacts on Rustington and Wick local centres.
"Whilst there is no certainty that the scale of impact on Littlehampton town centre will be significantly adverse, such a scale of impact cannot be completely ruled out at this stage."
— Nexus Planning, Supplementary Advice Report, February 2026
Under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), proposals likely to result in a significantly adverse impact on the vitality and viability of a defined town centre should be refused planning permission. This report was commissioned and published by Arun District Council itself — making its conclusions a significant material consideration for any planning committee decision.
Public consultation closes — residents raise traffic and residential amenity concerns
The public consultation period on planning application LU/72/25/OUT closed on 30 May 2025. A large number of residents from Goldcrest Avenue, Kingfisher Drive, Finches Close, Linnet Close and surrounding streets submitted formal representations via the Arun District Council planning portal.
A review of the representations submitted during the consultation shows a consistent pattern of planning concerns, particularly relating to traffic impacts on the surrounding road network and residential amenity.
The most frequently referenced issue in public comments was the potential impact of the development on traffic levels and congestion in the surrounding area.
Residents frequently referred to existing congestion along the A259 corridor, particularly between the Morrisons roundabout and the Tesco roundabout. Comments also referenced traffic using Courtwick Lane and New Courtwick Lane, which some residents report are already used as alternative routes during peak congestion.
Several representations also highlighted the proximity of nearby residential streets, including Goldcrest Avenue, Ernest Fitches Way and Henry Lock Way, and raised questions about how additional development traffic may affect these areas.
Other planning considerations raised by residents included:
- Noise and disturbance from commercial activity, particularly the potential for late-night or 24-hour operation of drive-through units and associated vehicle movements
- Proximity of drive-through food outlets to nearby schools, including White Meadows Primary School and Lyminster Primary School
- Impact on Littlehampton town centre and existing local shops
- Loss of green space and visual impact on the surrounding area
- Cumulative impact when considered alongside the already approved Minster Court industrial development (LU/133/23/PL)
Some residents also highlighted the scale of nearby residential development, including the Kingley Gate estate (approximately 630 homes), which relies on local road connections to the A259.
The application remains under consideration by Arun District Council. Public representations submitted during the consultation period will form part of the material considered by planning officers when preparing their report.