NEWS RELEASES
LDF – latest inspectors' report
3rd October 2007
THE DETAILED provisions for housing, employment and other uses within the Horsham District in the period to 2018 have been agreed by the independent Inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State to conduct the Examination into the soundness of the Site Specific Allocations of Land Development Plan Document (part of the Horsham District Local Development Framework).
The Inspectors have now completed their report and submitted it to Horsham District Council.
The Inspectors (Mr Alan Foster and Mr David Vickery) conclude that the document is sound against the relevant tests, subject to it being changed in certain respects in accordance with their recommendations.
This agreement follows on from their previous endorsement of the fundamental principles and provisions of the Core Strategy, which included the major development proposals for the land west of Crawley and those for the west of Horsham.
In order to meet the overall development requirements within the District, a number of other sites have been identified as ‘allocations’ for future development and it is these proposals which have now been considered by the Inspectors.
They have concluded that the allocated sites offer a reasonable prospect of being delivered in accordance with the Council’s forecasts but consider that three proposals should be deleted:
- The RMC Engineering Works, Washington which was an allocation for some 75 dwellings in the second half of the plan period;
- The sites at Oddstones, Stane Street, Pulborough (37 dwellings) and Greenfield Depot, Upper Beeding (15 dwellings).
As part of the consultation process in preparing the document, over 100 additional or alternative proposals were submitted on behalf of landowners or prospective developers; none of these have been supported by the Inspectors.
Indeed, the Inspectors consider that the document provides sufficient housing land, including allowing for ‘windfall’ sites, and that there is, therefore, no compelling need to allocate specific additional housing sites at this stage.
The Inspectors also consider that the proposals for the Centre of Rural Excellence at Brinsbury should be changed to make it clear that they relate to a specific rural initiative to ensure the future viability of the Campus and not wider employment provision. Other significant proposals, such as for the Shoreham Cement Works or for the Parsonage Farm site in Horsham, have been endorsed.
The conclusions and recommendations of the Inspectors set out in their Report are binding on the Council and it is now required to proceed to adoption of the Site Specific Allocations of Land document as soon as possible, which it is intended to do following a resolution at the Council meeting on 17 October 2007.
Cllr Liz Kitchen, Leader of Horsham District Council, said:
“We are pleased that the Inspectors have not imposed any further development on the District by adding in sites which the Council had, for good reasons, decided not to allocate for development.
“The Inspectors’ carefully considered and well constructed report recognises and supports the balance struck by the Council in seeking to safeguard the unique character of the area whilst securing high quality development and the greatest possible benefits to our community wherever change is necessary.
“We welcome their conclusions accordingly.”
Ends
Note to editors:
The full Inspectors’ report is available on the Council’s website, www.horsham.gov.uk/strategic_planning, or by contacting Horsham District Council’s Strategic and Community Planning Department on (01403 215398), e-mail: strategic.planning@horsham.gov.uk
The Site Specific Allocations of Land Development Plan Document was submitted to the Secretary of State on 4 November 2005. The appointed Inspectors, Mr. Alan Foster and Mr. David Vickery held a Pre-Examination Meeting on 16th April 2007 and conducted the Examination by way of written exchanges and by hearing sessions held between 12th June and 6th July 2007 for those who exercised their right to be heard. In coming to their conclusions on the soundness of the document, the Inspectors had regard to the representations which were made in the 6 weeks following submission and the period of consultation on the Alternative Development Sites, along with subsequent written submissions and oral contributions made at and after the hearing sessions.
For any further information about the content of the Inspectors’ Report or the formal adoption of the Site Specific Allocations of Land Development Plan Document by Horsham District Council, please contact Paul Rowley, Head of Strategic and Community Planning (01403) 215180 or e-mail: paul.rowley@horsham.gov.uk
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email: richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk