Council refuses new ground for Horsham Football Club

Horsham chief executive John Lines at the Hop Oast site

Councillors voted 13-9 in favour of refusing the planning application off Worthing Road with one abstaining.

The main points raised to result in the refusal were access problems to the site for pedestrians and cyclists and fears the clubhouse was oversized and, as a result, it suggested there were plans for extensive commercial use.

The first application was to include two all-weather 3G pitches on two disused golf holes at Horsham Golf & Fitness, a stand, dug-outs, clubhouse, associated structures, and car parking.

The second application for 57 homes at the Holbrook Club site was also refused.

The club has been without a permanent home since leaving Queen Street in 2008, when its bid for a new ground at the Holbrook Club was also refused by HDC.

Horsham FC chairman Kevin Borrett said: “The club is extremely disappointed by the decision taken tonight In respect of Hop Oast.

“Our view was that it was seven years of painstaking work that we have put into this application and we think it is a suitable and sustainable place and merited support from the council.”

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