Hamilton Investments wants to develop a parcel of land just south of the railway line on the east side of Western Road. A garage block and car yard would be demolished to make way for the new three-storey flat roof building, next to Lancing Business Park, containing 18 one-bedroom flats. As part of the development an extra five car parking spaces would be created for St Peter’s Place, a block of flats immediately to the south. The application will be discussed by Adur District Council’s planning committee on Monday May 11. A total of 30 per cent affordable housing is proposed within the scheme. Each flat will have one allocated parking space and a balcony largely facing inwards towards the courtyard. A communal garden is proposed to the north of the building. To protect against noise from the business park a 2.4metre high acoustic fence is planning on the eastern boundary next to the planting buffer. Sompting Parish Council has objected to the application as it feels the proposed building would not be in character with those in the surrounding area. But council planning officers do not believe the scheme will be inappropriate in its surroundings or cause visual harm and would help screen views of the industrial buildings from Western Road. Their report added: “The architect is deliberately aiming for a contemporary building which does not slavishly recreate the form and materials seen elsewhere and it is considered that such an approach can be supported here in view of the mixed character and generally poor design quality of surrounding residential and industrial development.” They are therefore recommending planning permission be granted. A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton: In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers. Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis. Stay safe, and best wishes.