Plans for the site at Melita Nursery on Chalk Lane in Sidlesham, near Chichester, had sought to create 22 pitches—more than double the site’s existing lawful use for nine. In a ruling issued on August 5, Planning Inspector R C Kirby upheld the council's decision. The inspector concluded that the site layout was too cramped and failed to provide adequate living conditions for future residents. Additionally, they said the risk of harm to protected species, particularly bats, carried "significant negative weight" in the decision, due to a lack of up-to-date information on protected species at the site. A spokesperson for the council said it would now be considering the implications of the decision, alongside ongoing planning enforcement matters relating to the site.