‘Unprecedented local opposition’ to plans for 473 new homes on Horsham farmland is backed by parish council

Developers Fairfax want to build the houses on fields at Newhouse Farm, off Old Crawley Road, Roffey, and are seeking planning approval from Horsham District Council.

But the proposals have sparked outrage from people living in the area. And now North Horsham Parish Council has also come out against the development saying it ‘strongly objects’.

In a statement it said: “The Parish Council has received a multitude of serious concerns from members of the public and local residents on the negative impact on the community and standard of life the development will introduce and exacerbate.”

It says the development would have a detrimental impact on the area which is classified as a High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

And it points out that the National Planning Policy Framework states that ‘great weight should be given to preserving’ such landscapes and that planning permission should be refused in such areas except in exceptional circumstances.

The council says that the development would cause significant harm to the area by “detracting from the rural character, sense of naturalness and tranquillity of this part of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

The council also objects to a loss of fields for agricultural production and damage to woodland.

It also points out that the land isshown as ‘not being currently developable’ on the Horsham District Council Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment.”

Local infrastructure is also at capacity, says the council. “The current infrastructure in the area is not able to accommodate the overwhelming increase in population that the additional development will generate.

“For example, doctors’ surgeries are already oversubscribed,” and it adds: “This major development will increase traffic movements and congestion/queuing on the A264, further impacting the B2195, Crawley Road.”

It says that north Horsham has already taken significant developments in the area and that it felt that “the impact of a further substantial development in the parish will place too much pressure on the wellbeing of those living within the parish.

“This is clear from the unprecedented local opposition to the application.”

It urges Horsham District Council to refuse planning permission.

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