Have your say in the draft Local Plan consultation

Horsham District Council is required by Government to provide for an unprecedented increase in the number of homes in the District. This is a huge challenge for the Council and it urges all residents to read the development options and have their say.  The purpose of the Draft Local Plan is to guide future developments in the Horsham District until 2036.

None of the sites in the draft Local Plan has been selected by the Council. The document looks at potential sites that have been put forward by developers and assessed by Horsham District Council for suitability.  There are a number of potential sites listed in the document, but it is anticipated that only some of these will ultimately be allocated for development.

The decisions of the Council on sites to be allocated will depend in part on the responses it receives during this consultation. The site assessments have been published so that residents can read about the possible options, see how they have been assessed and give their feedback.

The public consultation on the Horsham District Draft Local Plan (Regulation 2018) is now open and ends at 5pm on 30 March 2020.

Cllr Claire Vickers, Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Planning commented,

“Many thanks to all of you who have already given feedback on the draft Local Plan.

“Our public consultation is now half way through and I urge everybody to continue to give us their feedback on the options put forward by developers.

“I wish to emphasize that although potential sites are listed in the draft consultation document, no choices have yet been made. The decisions of the Council on the sites to eventually be allocated will depend on the feedback we receive during this consultation.

“The Local Plan will help ensure that any developments are in suitable locations, helping the crucial delivery of local job opportunities and are set out in the Plan with contributions from developers to provide community infrastructure and upgrade transport links.

Failure to produce a Local Plan will put these vital elements in jeopardy and leave us exposed to unacceptable developments in totally unsuitable locations which none of us want.

Cllr Claire Vickers, Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Planning

Details about the Local Plan review process and timetable is available online now, including a video introducing the Local Plan process.

Supporting background documents will also be published on this website, including a Sustainability Appraisal (which considers what the environmental, social and economic effects would be) and an Infrastructure Delivery Plan (which considers what infrastructure will be needed to deliver growth).

Find out more information about The Local Plan.

All responses should be made on the official form and returned by 5pm on Monday 30 March 2020. Call 01403 215100.

Copies of the Draft Local Plan can also be viewed at the Council offices, Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham, RH12 1RL (between 9 am and 5 pm on weekdays), and in all District libraries during normal opening hours. A copy of the Draft Local Plan has also been sent to every Parish Council in the District.

Public drop-in sessions are continuing at:

25 February, 4–8pm

Henfield Village Hall, Coopers Way, Henfield BN5 9DB

29 February, 10am–4pm

Swan Walk Shopping Centre, Horsham RH12 1HQ

3 March, 4–8pm

Ifield West Community Centre, 1A Dobbins Pl, Crawley RH11 0SZ

4 March, 4–8pm

Beeson House, 26 Lintot Square, Southwater, Horsham RH13 9LA

For media queries please email press@horsham.gov.uk .