LATEST NEWS: Draft Masterplan published for consultation
24 September - 5 November 2007

Welcome to the West of Horsham Masterplan web pages.  The aim of these pages is to keep you informed about the work being undertaken on the West of Horsham Strategic Development Location. The remainder of this page gives a brief background to the development, but if you wish to know what is happening now, please see the timetable.

What is the West of Horsham Strategic Development?

Horsham District Council is required to identify land for a variety of development needs in the period to at least 2018.  Over the last couple of years the Council has worked on identifying where this may take place through the preparation of a document called the Local Development Framework Core Strategy.  As part of this work, land west of Horsham and south of Broadbridge Heath (bounded by the A264 to the north, River Arun to the southwest and the railway to the southeast) has been identified as a location suitable for a mixed-use development of 2,000 homes plus the necessary infrastructure, facilities and services.  The details of this development are contained within Policy CP7 of that document. Alongside the Core Strategy a background document was also produced explaining the reasoning behind this decision.

The Core Strategy was considered by independent Inspectors who approved the identification of this land for development subject to it meeting the criteria set out in the policy. 

It is anticipated that the Council will be asked to determine planning applications for the development of the area towards the end of 2007.  In order to do this a detailed draft Masterplan has been prepared for the area.  The Masterplan sets out the broad types and locations of various aspects of the development alongside design principles for site.  It is an important document providing the basis for the development and public comments are wanted now.

What does the Masterplan do?
The Masterplan goes beyond the principles of development for West of Horsham set out in the Core Strategy and considers what type of place we actually want, how it will work, what facilities will be provided, how it will look and key areas that need to be protected:

Draft Masterplan document (opens in new browser window)

A Sustainability Appraisal/Strategic Environmental Assessment has been prepared for the Masterplan and this is available in pdf format (SA/SEA document)

Three Background Papers have also been published:

• The Seventh Principle – Employment and Business Opportunities
• The Eighth Principle – Sustainable Development.
• Core Policy CP 12 - Affordable Housing Provision

Notice of Representation period for the Land West of Horsham Draft Masterplan.

The draft Masterplan is subject to public consultation between 24 September - 5 November 2007.  Following this consultation, all the responses will be considered and the masterplan revised, before adoption by the Council in May 2008. It will then be used to assist in the determination of planning applications for this area.

A series of exhibitions has been arranged to provide an opportunity for anyone who wishes to discuss any aspect of the draft Masterplan with Council officers:

In addition to the Masterplan a further Supplementary Planning Document will be necessary to address in more detail the design aspects of the development.  It will be called Design Principles and Character Areas Supplementary Planning Document and will be prepared separately in liaison with the local community.  Further information will be available in due course.

Further information:

For the latest information contact the Strategic and Community Planning Department on 01403 215398 or view the timetable.