'˜Cynical' plans for Storrington homes rejected

Gladman Developments’ proposal for land off Fryern Road was refused by Horsham District Council’s Development Control South Committee on Tuesday.

Officers had recommended that the scheme be refused on the grounds that it was outside the built up area boundary of the village and was not in the local plan, would create an urbanised environment in a countryside location, and did not demonstrate it would not be harmful to protected species or habitats.

Anna Worthington-Leese, chair of Storrington Parish Council, called the development a ‘cynical attempt by the developer to get in before the neighbourhood plan is made’.

She added: “It would irrevocably change the character of the area and set a precedent for a number of nearby fields.”

Roger Smith, speaking on behalf of the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s Sussex branch, urged councillors to reject what he called a ‘speculative’ application, echoing officer remakes about deficiencies with ecology information.

Philip Circus (Con, Chanctonbury) thought that mitigation measures to reduce the new houses’ impact on air quality would not make a ‘haypenny’s difference’, and also raised the importance of keeping a gap between Storrington and West Chiltington. He explained: “I think it’s important for both communities to maintain the cordon sanitaire, but maybe that’s not quite the right expression but I think members know what I mean and I think this will undermine it.”

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

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.