Website created as residents battle West Chiltington housing plans

Villagers have set up a website - www.savesmockalley.com - dedicated to counter the proposal to build on land west of Smock Alley.

Resident Lucy Maxwell said she believes the development would mark the first greenfield site built on in West Chiltington for 40 years.

She said: “I think it is really strong opposition, there has been a real sense of community getting together.

“People have been putting notices up, going to meetings and rallying together.

“Everyone is quite shocked at the scale of the development, it has been an unchanged area for a significant period of time.”

Fears over the impact on road safety and the field’s wildlife - which includes badgers, deer, birds and bats - have also been raised by protesting residents.

Lucy said more than 50 village residents have stated their opposition to the plans.

She added: “We have big safety concerns about the roads.

“There is the potential that this could be the start of encroachment on other fields and a fear that this could set a precedent for further future development.

“For a relatively small village where a lot of developments are small, around five houses, this is a much bigger development that is not really in keeping with the rest of the village.”

The homes will include 21 one, two, three and four bedroom houses. Of the new homes, 13 will be market homes and eight affordable housing.

To view the application, visit Horsham District Council’s website and enter DC/14/2248.