Gypsy and traveller pitches at Rookwood not ruled out

The local authority has been promoting land at the golf course for up to 1,100 new homes as part of its own local plan review.

The prospect of building new homes on the golf course has sparked vocal opposition from residents and campaigners, with the impact on the Warnham Local Nature Reserve and loss of green space two of the biggest concerns.

In response, the council is developing an alternative proposal for a smaller quantum of development.

This would see most of the northern section of the current golf course turned into protected, recreational and accessible green space.

The council said this would increase biodiversity and opportunities for rewilding alongside extra open-air leisure facilities.

This proposal will be submitted by Avison Young, alongside the original plan, for independent assessment by strategic planning officers.

This week the County Times asked the council if the original or alternative proposals included provision for gypsy and traveller pitches.

In response, a spokesman said: “It is a government requirement that Horsham District Council makes provision to meet the housing needs of gypsies and travellers in our local plan.

“It is our expectation that any strategic site which is allocated will make some provision for gypsy and traveller accommodation.

“The strategic planning team have therefore asked all strategic site promoters, including Rookwood, to consider what land they may have available for this form of accommodation in the event that their site is allocated.

“The potential location and number of any gypsy and traveller pitches has yet to be finalised and we are unable to comment on the precise location or number of pitches.

“The final details of the sites that are allocated in our draft local plan, including gypsy and traveller site allocations, will be made available for consultation early next year.

“There will be an opportunity for comments to be made on the proposals at this stage. These comments will be passed to an independent planning inspector who will consider the comments made as part of an examination of the plan.”

Revealing more information about its alternative proposal, the council said it would provide around 45-50 hectares of publicly accessible green space, an opportunity to extned the nature reserve, limit housing development to just over one third of the total land area and primarily focused to the south of Warnham Road and release land north of the link between the Walnut Tree plantation and the nature reserve for public recreational access rather than only for golf and maintain the integrity of Boldings Brook, the Red River and the Riverside Walk.

Jonathan Chowen, cabinet member for leisure and culture, said: “We have listened to the community views about Rookwood and we have taken on board their feedback, namely concern about protection for Warnham Local Nature Reserve, and secondly a wish to have publicly accessible natural green space for recreation in the locality.

“As a result, we are developing an alternative scheme that opens up the area to wider public recreational use - it is currently primarily limited to golf use - while enhancing wildlife and biodiversity adjacent to the nature reserve.

“If the proposal is allocated through the local plan, then we would be keen to further consult and work closely with the residents, partners and stakeholders to develop ideas for what the project will ultimately look like. We will, for example, look to expand aspects of Warnham Local Nature Reserve and ensure that nature continues to thrive at Rookwood and is protected through our Wilder Horsham nature recovery networks.

“These additional new initiatives have financial consequences and along with the current pandemic crisis, puts further strain on the council’s budgets. It is also vital to protect other community assets, parks, the museum, theatre, leisure centres and vital services that will rebuild our finances.

“Although the plan significantly reduces the number of houses that can be provided, it still provides some 300 new affordable homes and we have an opportunity to provide a visionary eco-friendly, sustainable and imaginative development within a garden setting, with some 70 per cent open space that will also deliver our corporate ambitions on the environment.”

The next version of the local plan will be published for consultation early next year.