Pictures: Full planning details submitted for Toat Café site in Pulborough – have your say

The developer working on the Toat Café site, operated by the Macari family, has written an open letter to the people of Sussex about their plans to seek permission for a residential development on land at Toat Café, Stanes Cottage, on land adjoining Stanes Cottage, and Whitelands, Pulborough, and how the local community can make their views known.

Public letter

I am writing on behalf of the owners of the Toat Café site, the Macari family, who wanted us (the architects for the site) to update the local community on the development proposals for this site.

We are pleased to announce that following a substantial period of design development, an outline planning application for a housing development on the site has now been submitted to Horsham District Council (planning reference DC/26/0826). The proposed development comprises a mix of

two, three and four-bedroom houses, together with one and two-bedroom apartments. The proposal also includes a replacement restaurant for the Toat Café, and a much-needed pharmacy.

In addition, the scheme provides new public open spaces, including ponds, a children’s play area, a mountain bike technical skills area, a substantial meadow, and new cycle paths and footpaths, for the use of future residents and neighbours.

We were first instructed by the owners in 2024, to consider the redevelopment of this site after it had initially been allocated in the draft neighbourhood plan for general industrial, storage, distribution and other uses. Unfortunately, despite exhaustive marketing of the site, there have been no end users willing to take up any of the possible uses allowed within the emerging neighbourhood plan.

Housing, food and a pharmacy

Horsham District Council currently has only a 1.7 year supply of housing land, which is significantly less than the five year supply required by the Government. The proposed housing scheme will provide much needed housing set against the existing shortfall, in addition to generating less vehicular movements (particularly that related to heavy traffic) than the industrial proposals and will create a more attractive entry into the South Downs National Park than an industrial estate.

This site should be regarded as a sustainable location for new housing, as the council previously considered it appropriate for commercial development. The scheme will also allow the Macari family to carry on their much-loved café business in the form of a new restaurant sited within the development. A local pharmacist has also agreed to provide the pharmacy to serve the new housing development and the surrounding community. There will also be a small shop facility.

Community update

The proposals have been the subject to pre-application discussions with Horsham District Council and a public consultation. The public consultation event took place earlier this year and attracted significant local interest, with an attendance estimated to be more than 100 people, who were invited to review and comment on the proposals. The scheme has received overwhelming support and the family were happy to incorporate all the suggestions made by local residents in the final proposals submitted to the Council. In addition to the comments received on 26th January, we have so far received 65 letters of support.

Shown below is a copy of the site plan submitted as part of the planning application:

As can be seen, this is not an overly dense development of the site, with large amounts of open space for both residents and neighbours to enjoy. It is considered that this is far more appropriate than the imposition of an unwanted industrial/commercial estate, which could be considered an unfortunate blight on the area. This is a scheme which has been supported by the vast majority of the neighbouring residents, and we would be grateful if you could confirm your support by submitting your comments to Horsham District Council.

As the visuals of the proposed development show, the architecture will complement and enhance the surrounding character of the area.

MICHAEL CONOLEY Dip Arch RIBA

Architect, on behalf of the Macari Family