Developers plan 160 new homes for Storrington

Leaflets have gone out to to more than 600 residents and businesses in the village outlining plans by Gladman Developments as part of what they say is a ‘public consultation’ on the proposals.

But some residents have already voiced opposition to the new homes.

However, Gladman, in its leaflet to villagers, says: “Whilst we fully understand why people may have concerns, they need to be balanced against the requirement to provide much needed new houses, to meet the differing needs of an increasing population and address housing affordability.”

Gladman say the development will provide high quality housing and include up to 35 per cent of affordable homes, will provide public open space, enhanced footpath links and ‘increased spending and customers to support local businesses and facilities such as the local school.’

But Rosemary Vaughan, of Spierbridge Road, Storrington, said that the developers had made no mention of the village’s extremely poor air quality.

Traffic through the village has been blamed for the pollution.

And she questioned the developers’ claim that there was capacity for extra patients at the local GP surgery.

“When one of our two GP surgeries was closed about two years ago how can they possibly claim there’s enough space for new patients in our now-only surgery?”

An application for outline planning permission for the development has yet to be submitted to Horsham District Council for consideration.

But Gladman Developments, in their leaflet to residents, say: “We give careful consideration to the site we choose, identifying sensible locations in areas where councils have not met their full housing needs.

“This approach has enabled us to gain planning approval on over 90 per cent of the site we promote.

“We therefore believe that this site is likely to gain planning approval.”