Highwood Community Facilities Consultation

We asked the residents of Highwood, Horsham and surrounding areas for their feedback on the potential provision of new community facilities and enhancements to existing sports facilities, to help shape the future plans for Highwood.

Highwood Community Consultation: Survey Synopsis

Respondent Profile

Participation: 89 residents completed the survey.
Residency: 90% were Highwood residents.
Length of residence varied: 40% had lived in Highwood for 1-3 years; 30% over 5 years; 19% for 4-5 years; 11% less than one year.

Preferred Activities and Participation Frequency

Key Activity Choices: Fitness and wellness classes - most popular at 71%. Followed by social gatherings/community meetings (60%), arts, crafts, or creative workshops (49%), indoor sports (48%), educational classes and skills development (45%), youth programmes and activities (28%), support for local sports (27%), and private event hire (27%).
- Additional options under “other” included lectures, children’s sports, and some noted no interest.
Expected Usage: 55% indicated weekly participation in selected activities.

Design Elements and Features

Averaged ranking of design priorities (1=most to 7=least important):

Modern, visually appealing architecture.
Adequate parking.
Flexible space layouts.
Accessibility.
On-site amenities (e.g., kitchen, meeting rooms).
Sustainable materials/energy-efficient design.

Additional Design Comments: Emphasis on secure access, practical internal layouts, and cost-effective solutions that align with Highwood’s identity.

Interest in Management Roles

Only 2% expressed interest in running or managing the facility. An additional 19% indicated tentative interest, pending further information.

Key Concerns Raised

Respondents provided 71 comments (80% response rate) on concerns.

Theme	# of Mentions	Details
Traffic, Parking & Access	47	Concerns over increased traffic, congestion, and the risk of overwhelming the capacity on narrow roads. Inadequate parking provisions and risks of spill-over into residential streets. Concerns about the accessibility challenges due to insufficient public transport and active-travel routes.
Neighbourhood impact, Antisocial Behaviour and Safety	38	Fears around noise from events and during construction. Concerns of dust, light pollution, and litter from both building works and everyday use. Worries about an increase in antisocial behaviour and potential safety issues.
Design Fit	30	Concerns that the new design might not integrate well with the existing residential character.
Governance & Viability	15	Doubts around costs, maintenance, and lack of clarity on responsibility and long-term management. Criticism regarding duplication of existing services, and thus the need for the facility.

Suggestions to Enhance the Project

50 respondents (56% response rate) contributed suggestions, with several themes emerging.

Theme	# of Mentions	Details
Building Design	8	Flexible, multi-use building, designed for intergenerational use. Aesthetically pleasing design that fits with Highwood’s character.
Programmes, events & services	16	Broad activity range suggested, incl. youth clubs, adult education, markets, cinema nights. Desire for baby/toddler classes and childcare programmes.
Transport & Access	13	Traffic management, clear signage, walkable connections from neighbouring areas, bus access, and abundant on-site parking.
Sports & Recreation	5	Provide changing rooms and showers, spectator areas. Open existing facilities (e.g. football pitches).
Sustainable Enhancements	6	Eco-friendly features such as gardens, wildflower areas, and green and active travel incentives..
Public Services & Amenities	9	Requests for services like a medical centre, convenience store, and security.
Governance & Management	10	Calls for continued community input, local procurement, clear usage rules, and fair pricing.

Final Comments

An additional text box was provided for final comments, receiving 35 responses (39% response rate).

Theme	# of Mentions	Details
Offering & Programming	6	Interest in a variety of activities; questions about nursery/childcare provision.
Building & Operations	5	Desire for clear construction timelines. Attractive, sustainable design with minimal disturbance. Consideration for adjacent neighbours during construction.
Access & Transport	8	Continued concerns over parking, traffic, and bus connectivity. Removal of fencing around sports pitches and create a more formal footpath – improving resident access.
Financial & Governance	4	Requests for transparent cost and clarity over operational responsibilities.
Community Sentiment	15	Mixed views – from strong support to skepticism about need, usage, and impact on the area.

Conclusion

The community demonstrates an interest in a well-designed, multi-functional facility that supports a broad range of activities and reflects Highwood’s identity. However, significant concerns—particularly around traffic, parking, antisocial behaviour, cost, and need—should be addressed to ensure any future development is both viable and welcomed.

Interim improvements will be made to the area identified for a venue and additional security measures will be installed so facilities already in situ (play park, MUGA and pitches) can be accessed and used by residents and the community. Design plans for a venue will be developed for consideration.

Last updated: 18 Jun 2025