Plans for 165 homes in Broadbridge Heath approved on appeal

JPCT 280215 S15080595x Broadbridge Heath campaigners show of strength at development near Shelley Arms in February -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-150228-130536001

A planning inspector overruled Horsham District Council’s decision to refuse Gleeson Development’s proposals for land north of Old Guildford Road this week and awarded costs against the council.

The decision represents another blow for the village, which has already taken major development south of Broadbridge Heath, with a scheme for more than 900 homes already underway.

In his report inspector Michael Hetherington concluded: “Taking all of the above matters together, I consider that the appeal scheme would provide clear and substantial benefits – most notably by delivering housing to meet an acknowledged shortfall in an accessible location.

“The harm that I have identified in respect of landscape and visual impact would be ‘moderate/substantial adverse’.”

He added: “I recognise that the appeal scheme has attracted a significant amount of local opposition. The view has been expressed that allowing this appeal would be contrary to the principles of localism

“Nevertheless, such principles do not mean that national policy should be set to one side. In the present case it is the failure of the council, as local planning authority, to provide adequately for the district’s housing needs that has led to existing Local Plan policies for the supply of housing to be deemed out-of-date, thereby requiring an overall planning balance to be undertaken in the context of paragraph 14 of the framework.”

What do you think of the decision? Comment below or email the newsdesk.

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