Consultation starts on Friday over council’s ‘visionary’ housing strategy

Consultation on the Horsham District Planning Framework Preferred Strategy, will run from Friday 16 August for eight weeks until 11 October.

The new strategy aims to set out the planning policies to deliver the needs of the district as well as hoping to protect and enhance the place in which residents live, work and relax.

The strategy lays out 11,500 new homes for the next 20 years in the Horsham district, with 2,500 homes North of Horsham including a business park, and around 500 homes in Southwater and Billingshurst.

Claire Vickers (Con, Southwater), cabinet member for living and working communities, said: “We want to find out your views on the preferred strategy, please read through the document carefully, as it explains the influences and the reasoning for the preferred approach.

“Most importantly, please do take the opportunity to get involved and give us your views – the proposals have changed significantly as a result of your earlier feedback.”

Along with the strategy, the Interim Sustainability Appraisal will be published for consultation, which identifies the potential economic, social and environmental impacts arising from the preferred strategy and ensures that any adverse effects are prevented or reduced.

There are a number of ways to view the documents:

· through the council’s website

· at Horsham District Council’s offices at Park North in North Street, Horsham

· at local libraries throughout the district

· at parish council offices in the district

In addition, there will be displays at:

· Southwater Parish Council, Beeson House, Southwater

· Roffey Millennium Hall, North Horsham

· Rusper Village Hall, High Street, Rusper

Those who want to ask a question about the strategy can do so during Mrs Vickers’ ‘Live Facebook Chats’ on Thursday 5 September and Thursday 8 October from 6pm to 7pm on the council’s Facebook page.

There will also be short surveys on the council’s website covering a different part of the preferred strategy each week.

Mrs Vickers added: “It is both an intention and aspiration to bring communities with us in preparing our plans for the future and I encourage you to let us have your views.”