Drayton Waterside, Chichester

Working closely with Vail Williams Planning, we successfully unlocked this 4-acre site — extending an existing established employment location — and secured consent for 48,800 sqft of new incubator, micro, and start-up business units, spanning a range of employment use classes. The scheme responds directly to the identified local demand for small business accommodation in the area.

Despite being located within an established employment area, the site presented a number of challenges due to its rural context and position within strategic wildlife corridors associated with bat flight routes and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Through careful consultation and positive negotiations addressing ecology, highways, and planning use matters, the project team achieved detailed planning consent for a highly sustainable Business Park in the countryside — delivering much-needed small business and start-up floorspace while protecting and enhancing the surrounding environment.