Plans to build a watersport storage facility at a designated nature reserve have been refused over fears it could harm the site’s special character.

The scheme was proposed for land lying to the east of Havenwood Cottage alongside Glebefield Road in West Itchenor, situated within the Witterings area – a nationally protected landscape recognised for its environmental importance.

The single-storey building was intended to house boats on the ground floor with overnight accommodation on the upper level. Planning officers observed that it would effectively operate as an independent dwelling given its residential facilities and absence of connection to any current home.

Chichester Harbour Conservancy lodged a protest, arguing the building would be disproportionately large and would harm the character and scenic appearance of the surrounding national landscape.

West Itchenor Parish Council also filed an objection, asserting the proposal contradicted the existing Chichester Local Plan.

That plan places strict limitations on residential development outside defined settlement boundaries unless specific conditions are met.

Seven householders additionally submitted objections, raising worries about increased traffic, ribbon development, ecological harm, and the loss of countryside character, referencing earlier planning refusals for the same spot.

In turning down the scheme, Chichester District Council officers said it would create a new residential unit in the countryside, moving development onto greenfield land within the Chichester Harbour National Landscape.

This landscape was formerly classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

In their evaluation, planning officers observed that the proposed development, considering its fundamental scale, design and positioning, would constitute an inappropriate and visually obtrusive form of development that would extend linear development along Glebefield Road and intrude into the open countryside. The removal of an undeveloped plot of land would damage the open and rural character of the area and the Chichester Harbour National Landscape. The application has also not established a necessary rural requirement or provided justification for a countryside location.

Officers also flagged ecological worries, noting the ground had been stripped in June 2025 ahead of any wildlife surveys, potentially destroying homes for protected creatures.

An ecological impact assessment filed with the proposal showed the scheme would have produced a net loss surpassing 72 percent in habitats had consent been granted.