Architecture and Masterplanning in Chichester
Architecture and masterplanning in Chichester is the design work that turns a parcel of land into a layout of homes, streets and open space that a council can approve and a builder can deliver. Land to Homes prepares capacity studies, site layouts, house types and design statements, testing each one against planning policy, access, drainage and the character of the area.
Chichester · PO19Free site appraisal
Tell us about your land and we will call you back. No cost, no obligation.
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- Free site appraisalNo cost, no obligation
- Legal fees coveredReasonable fees, on options and promotion
- Nothing to pay upfrontOn promotion: we fund planning
- Direct purchaseSuitable sites, with or without planning
- UK-wideEngland, Wales, Scotland and NI
Our work around Chichester
Chichester (PO19) is one of the West Sussex towns we cover, about 32 miles south-west of Crawley. Close by, our coverage also takes in Bognor Regis, Havant and Littlehampton. Within England, Chichester falls in the South East region.
Near Chichester, we look at fields that need a masterplan before an application, in-principle consents that still need detailed approval and plots where access or drainage is the sticking point. In England, where Chichester sits, planning decisions are made by the local planning authority, usually the district, borough, city or unitary council (or a national park authority).
Send us the site address near Chichester and we will tell you what we think the planning route is.
Our approach in Chichester
Masterplans for larger sites
Streets, open space, landscaping, play areas and phasing set out in one coherent plan, with room for homes for sale, rent and affordable tenures.
House types that suit the place
Homes designed to reflect local materials, scale and character, with layouts people want to live in, rather than a standard pattern book dropped onto the site.
Buildability checked
We test every scheme for construction cost and practicality, so the consent we seek is for homes that can actually be built and then sold or let.
Clear plans for landowners
We explain drawings in plain terms, so you can see how your land would be used, where the access runs and what land might be left over.
The English system, as it applies in Chichester
If your land near Chichester lies in the Green Belt, national policy still protects it, but England's planning framework now recognises grey belt: Green Belt land that is previously developed or does not strongly contribute to certain Green Belt purposes. Where there is evidenced unmet need and the location is sustainable, grey belt housing can be acceptable, with major schemes meeting the Golden Rules on affordable housing, infrastructure and green space. Planning is never guaranteed, so we check policy, access and constraints first.
In England, the National Planning Policy Framework places strong weight on well-designed places, and the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code shape what councils expect. Many councils have adopted local design codes. Most applications must also deliver biodiversity net gain, which affects how much of a site is set aside for habitat.
| National planning policy | National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), revised August 2026, with national planning practice guidance |
|---|---|
| Local planning document | Local Plan |
| In-principle consent | Outline planning permission, with reserved matters approved later |
| How a sale becomes binding | A land sale becomes legally binding on exchange of contracts and finishes on completion, after which the buyer registers the title with HM Land Registry. |
Your questions answered for Chichester
How many homes could my land take?
It depends on the size and shape of the site, the access, the character of the area, the open space and drainage the scheme needs, and local planning policy on density. Sites of the same size can have very different capacities. A capacity study is the reliable way to answer the question, and our free site appraisal gives an indicative figure.
Do new housing schemes need sustainable drainage?
In most cases, yes. National and local policy usually expects new developments to manage rainwater sustainably, for example with swales, ponds and permeable paving. In Wales, most new developments need separate approval from the local SuDS approving body. We design drainage into the layout from the start, because it can take up a real share of the site.
How do you make new homes fit in with existing streets?
We study the scale, materials, building lines and spaces of the surrounding area and design homes and streets that respond to them. On a village edge that might mean lower density and more landscaping; in a town, homes that follow the existing street pattern. Early talks with planning officers and neighbours help shape the design.
What is a design and access statement?
It is a short report submitted with certain planning applications that explains the design principles behind a scheme and how people will get to and move around it. In England and Wales it is usually needed for major development and for some smaller schemes in sensitive areas. Scotland and Northern Ireland set their own requirements for design statements.
Do you take on planning and building work in Chichester?
Yes, on sites we buy, option, promote or develop in partnership in Chichester and elsewhere in West Sussex, including Burgess Hill, Horsham and Worthing. We do not take on planning or building work for third parties as a consultancy.
Read more: Architecture and Masterplanning · Guide: Planning permission explained for landowners