The pretty village of Earnley lies a short distance from Chichester and Sussex’s scenic West Wittering Beach - the Concourse site once being meadow farmland for the local Manor, developed in the mid-20th century as an education institute.
We were delighted to be invited by local housebuilder BRiCS to work with our long-term collaborators John Pardey Architects at Earnley. The Concourse had sadly become derelict and suffered from arson, though the landscape still retained the traces of its original charm through picturesque grassland and mature trees.
We carried out careful studies of the site and its village surroundings, with the aim to create an inspiring environment that respects its natural and rural context, including the neighbouring Medmerry Nature Reserve and the village’s conservation area. The masterplan was developed collaboratively to deliver a mix of three to five-bedroom homes set between a rich landscape of woodland meadows, ponds and swales, which will connect strongly to the village and farmland green infrastructure.
A new village green will anchor the north of the Concourse site to its neighbouring historic church and village centre: providing picnic areas, natural play and an orchard copse to engage the new residents in their community. Rills and rain gardens collect water through the streetscape, filtering to swales and ponds to the south. The new streets are carefully designed to minimise large areas of hard standing, with grass-filled permeable paving providing flexibility of access and a tight-knit village feel.
The overgrown field behind the Manor will be enhanced into a generous area of parkland, with the existing mature tree canopy playing host to playful trails, dappled meadows and a looping footpath.
We were really pleased to hear Chichester’s Design Officer’s comments that “the design approach enables the development to establish its own character and identity…The agricultural references, bold but traditional material palette and high-quality landscape ensure the development relates well to its surroundings”. We were very pleased to receive planning consent in 2025, and are looking forward to being involved in the next stages of this beautiful site.
