Fears over housing plans for 'ecological gem' in West Sussex village
Concerns are being raised over plans to build houses on land in a West Sussex village described by locals as ‘an ecological gem.’
Developers Fairfax Acquisitions have submitted a planning application to Horsham District Council to build four detached four-bedroom houses, car parking spaces, detached carports and access road on land at Church Farm in Church Farm Walk, Upper Beeding.
But local residents are lodging objections to the proposals and have mounted a ‘Save Church Farm’ campaign.
ECE Planning, agents for Fairfax, say in a statement to the council that the land is currently ‘unmanaged pasture.’ They say it “represents a logical and clearly defined infill plot between existing properties and the adjoining open countryside.”
They say access to the site will be via an upgraded extension of Church Farm Walk with a new turning enabling refuse vehicles, fire appliances and other service vehicles to manoeuvre safely.
But nearby residents are raising a flurry of objections. One said: “This distruction of countryside must not be allowed to carry on, all new building should be on brown field sites.
“The amount of building has nothing to do with housing shortage, there is more than enough housing being built throughout the county.”
Another raised concerns over access. They said: “The roads throughout Upper Beeding are narrow and in most cases there are cars parked along one side.
“Church Lane has no pavement and is barely wide enough for a vehicle and pedestrians have go onto private driveways. Any grass is on very steep banks and not accessible.” They added that there is “an abundance of wildlife which would mean their habitat is destroyed.”
Another agreed: “This is an important area for wildlife in an area of natural beauty. The fields are already flooded and water logged from the weather which happens every year.
"We are a village at high risk of flooding being so close to the river and the surrounding fields are crucial to help mitigate the effects of climate change and flooding.”
Flyers – describing the area as ‘an ecological gem at risk in Upper Beeding’ – have been circulated by ‘Save Church Farm’ campaigners who are due to hold a meeting in the village tomorrow (January 28).