Victory in residents’ battle to stop 473 homes being built on Horsham fields

A battle to stop developers building 473 new homes on Horsham farmland has ended in victory for local residents.
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They waged a months-long protest campaign when developers Fairfax first announced proposals to build the homes on fields at Newhouse Farm, off Old Crawley Road, Roffey.

And now Horsham District Council has refused planning permission for the development.

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Horrified nearby residents - who formed a Keep Our Green Spaces (KOGS) protest group - previously called for the plans to be rejected, maintaining there was no additional housing need in the area, loss of land in an ‘area of outstanding natural beauty’, a lack of infrastructure, fears of increased traffic and damage to wildlife habitats.

Some of the protesters SUS-200308-150311001Some of the protesters SUS-200308-150311001
Some of the protesters SUS-200308-150311001

Refusing the application this week, Horsham District Council said the proposed development was outside of a ‘defined built-up area’ on a site not allocated for development.

It also said it ‘would result in an unacceptably urbanising influence within this countryside location.’

And it pointed out road access difficulties and said there was a lack of ‘affordable housing’ within the proposals.

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Local campaigners fighting the proposals say they are ‘delighted’ at the council’s decision but are bracing themselves in case an appeal is lodged against it.

However, they are now drawing up plans for a celebratory KOGS community picnic on playing fields adjoining the farmland site later this month.