WEEKEND DEBATE: Should affordable homes be sacrificed for new school?

Barns Green new school in conjunction with 69 new homes (submitted).

Berkeley Homes will see their scheme for 69 new homes and a £4.2m new site for Itchingfield Primary school decided by Horsham District Council next Tuesday.

However HDC’s officers have recommended the school be refused as the application runs contrary to HDC planning policy.

As the developer is providing a new school as part of the application, it has not planning to include any affordable housing, usually set at around 40 per cent on schemes over 14 houses.

Plans received 141 letters of support, including 24 from the school children, as opposed to eight letters of objection.

Itchingfield Primary School is currently split over two sites, one in Itchingfield, with the other in Barns Green. The new school would be on the current Barns Green school site, with the 69 homes north of Two Mile Ash Road.

What do you think? Is this a special case where affordable housing should be sacrificed for the benefits of a new school? Comment below and cast your vote in our online poll.