LETTER: Open door for developers

A crucial topic to be considered by the Planning Inspector at the HDPF Examination on 3 July is how, quote, ‘the proposed additional 2,000 dwellings will be provided’.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Jun 2015, 10:00 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Your lettersYour letters
Your letters

Not withstanding the reality that the additional houses have been imposed not ‘proposed’ by the Planning Inspector, responsibility for deciding where they are to be built was rightfully delegated by him to Horsham District Council (HDC) – and should have been the subject of public consultation.

However, HDC chose not to declare publicly its intentions for accommodating the additional houses. Hence the omission of this sensitive issue from HDC’s recent ‘Main Modifications’ consultation; presumably because the consultation coincided with the elections.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

HDC’s veil of secrecy was raised last week at the hearing of an application to build 193 houses on countryside at Southwater, when a Cabinet Member replying to a question from a fellow councillor on how the 2,000 additional houses would be accommodated advised that they would be accommodated in part by approving planning applications, presumably those that are pending as well as current.

A councillor was concerned whether this strategy would apply to villages like Storrington that had not been identified as strategic sites by the Inspector and was advised that applications would be considered ‘on merit’.

Unfortunately, it would appear that HDC’s criteria for ‘on merit’ includes accommodating the 2,000 houses imposed by the Inspector; and that to meet the Inspector’s diktat councillors will be expected to approve all applications to build on countryside adjoining villages.

HDC’s presumption to approve is an open door to developers to decide where the additional houses will be built.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

This has huge implications for the District’s communities including not only Billingshurst, North of Horsham and Southwater, but also Barns Green, Broadbridge Heath, Henfield, Ifield, Pulborough, Slinfold and Storrington; all of which are now much more vulnerable to development in consequence.

Dr ROGER F. SMITH

For Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) Sussex (Horsham District), Bashurst Copse, Itchingfield

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be among the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.wscountytimes.co.uk

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wscountytimes

3 Follow us on Twitter @wscountytimes

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

The County Times – always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics:Horsham District Council