Save West of Ifield answers residents’ questions about new housing development in Crawley

Members of the Save West of Ifield committee were in attendance at the County Mall this weekend to answer questions from the public about Homes England proposed housing plans for Ifield West.
By Ellis Peters
Published 22nd Nov 2022, 09:57 BST
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Nearly “200 people visited the Save West of Ifield display in County Mall this Saturday, November 19”, group member Aidan Zeall said.

Members of the Save West of Ifield Committee were in attendance to answer questions from the public regarding Homes England's plans to build up to 10,000 new houses on, and around, Ifield Golf course on the Rusper Road, West of Ifield.

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Mr Zeall continued: “Nearly everyone who attended was against the Homes England plans. Among the concerns expressed was outrage that Horsham District Council would benefit from the council tax that the development would create whilst Crawley would get the pressure on its already strained infrastructure.

Paul Taylor-Burr of the Save West of Ifield Committee, the Mayor of Crawley, Jilly Hart. Leader of the Council, Michael Jones and West Sussex County Councillor for Langley Green and Ifield East, Alison Cornell.Paul Taylor-Burr of the Save West of Ifield Committee, the Mayor of Crawley, Jilly Hart. Leader of the Council, Michael Jones and West Sussex County Councillor for Langley Green and Ifield East, Alison Cornell.
Paul Taylor-Burr of the Save West of Ifield Committee, the Mayor of Crawley, Jilly Hart. Leader of the Council, Michael Jones and West Sussex County Councillor for Langley Green and Ifield East, Alison Cornell.

“Many people derided the Homes England concept of a '15 minute' community as being undeliverable and expressed concern at the potential impact of the development on local services such as roads, Ifield station and health services.

“The development will be equivalent to a 25% increase in the size of Crawley. A 43% increase in homes will roughly equate to a 50592 increase in population in the local population (based on census 2021).”

The event was attended by a number of Crawley Borough Council councillors including Mayor Jilly Hart, Cllr Michael Jones and Cllr Alison Cornell.

See more: Crawley town centre is lit up with Christmas makeover in weekend of celebrations - picture special, Christmas appeal: Gathering donations for three homeless charities, Crawley and Horsham community centres set to benefit as ‘Southern Water Community Energy Grants’ are awarded – Many 'visibly shaken' by scale of Homes England's West of Ifield development plans

Save West of Ifield is a community group consisting of residents, representatives from political parties and local council members.

Related topics:Horsham District Council