Live council Facebook chat on housing issues

Claire Vickers, Horsham District Council’s cabinet member for living and working communities, will be answering questions on Thursday September 5 from 6-7pm.

Last Friday the council published its draft housing plan, which sets out housebuilding in the district over the next 20 years, for public consultation.

It runs from August 16 for eight weeks.

At the heart of this new strategy, which must meet the criteria set out in the Government’s own recent National Planning Policy Framework for creating more economic growth, is the provision on land immediately north of Horsham off the A264 for business space .

It is hoped the scheme will create up to 3,000 jobs at a state of the art business park as part of a mixed scheme to include 2,500 homes, a retail food store, leisure provision, a medical centre, primary school and a site for a secondary school.

Questions can be sent during the live chat or beforehand to [email protected] and these will be posted online and put to Mrs Vickers during the chat.

Written comments will also be accepted and will be posted online during the chat, these can be sent to Communications, Horsham District Council, Park North, North Street, RH12 1RL.

Mrs Vickers said: “It is not my strategy; it is our strategy - one for all of us who live, work and visit the District.

“The strategy is a result of a long and in-depth review of our current policies, recent evidence and most importantly the views expressed in previous consultations.

“We have listened to our communities and whilst I appreciate that it is not possible to please everyone, we have tried to address the concerns and issues raised and I hope residents take the opportunity to tell us what they think of these proposals during this live chat.”

Details can also be found in the recent autumn 2013 edition of the Council’s ‘Horsham District News’ magazine, which was sent to homes across the district in August.

For more information on the live Facebook chat contact Horsham District Council by calling 01403 215571 or send questions in advance of the live chat by emailing [email protected]