Accommodation for dozens of homeless people to be based on outskirts of Horsham

The change of use application, from the Turning Tides charity, was given the nod by the planning committee on Tuesday (October 4).

It will allow the old Kingdom Faith Church site, at Roffey Place, Old Crawley Road, to be used for the next five years to help 50 people find their way out of homelessness.

Catherine Hill, of Turning Tides, said the number of people in the district being housed in emergency accommodation had increased by 933 per cent in one year.

She added: “Within Horsham, there currently is no high support accommodation, meaning that many single households are accommodated in emergency accommodation with limited or no support.

“Roffey Place will be a local service for local people and provide much-needed accommodation for those who have unfortunately suffered multiple and prolonged disadvantages throughout their life, providing intensive support for residents to empower them to fulfil their potential and to reintegrate into society.”

Concerns were raised about the safety of the residents, given the lack of pavements and lighting along Old Crawley Road and how close it is to the A264 dual carriageway.

The road has been used as a short cut by some drivers trying to avoid the roadworks being carried out at the Moorhead roundabout.

Addressing the committee, one member of the public predicted fatalities with people ‘wandering on the unlit road day and night’.

While some committee members agreed with the concerns raised, others felt there was no real problem and the use of the road would drop again once the roundabout roadworks were finished.

Following a suggestion from Ruth Fletcher (Lib Dem, Denne), Tony Hogben (Con, Colgate & Rusper) agreed to ask residents and businesses along Old Crawley Road if they would like to see the A264 junction closed off to prevent it being used as a short cut.

The Turning Tides application includes a pledge to provide a shuttle bus to take residents to and from Horsham.

Staff will also be on site 24 hours a day.

Tricia Youtan, cabinet member for housing, said the council was ‘delighted’ to work with Turning Tides a ‘well-respected and experienced group of people’.