Following Horsham District Council’s request to re-open the examination of its 2023-40 Local Plan at the end of 2025, a new examination is now underway.
On Tuesday 21 April a new Planning Inspector appointed by the government, Mr Jonathan Bore, restarted Stage One of the examination with three days of hearings.
During the Stage One hearing the topics covered were: the housing requirement from the government, the local housing supply and the local community, business and economic needs. The Inspector also confirmed that the Council’s Local Plan had met the relevant legal and procedural requirements, which allows the rest of the Examination to proceed.
Horsham District Council Director of Place Barbara Childs commented:
“Horsham District Council welcomes a return to strategic plan-led new homes development which the creation of this Plan will bring.
“As a council we are really pleased with the early progress made in this first stage of the overall examination which has already confirmed that the legal tests have been passed and addressed the overall housing requirement and delivery of affordable housing and economic development.
“We are grateful to the many people who have given their feedback and input into the development of the new Plan so far which has helped to shape it.
“We feel we are now well on the way to formalising a new Plan and will provide more details on next steps, including further consultation, when details become available.”
Stage Two of the examination will take place in Autumn 2026 and will consider the Council’s overall strategic approach, including the identification of specific development sites within the Plan.
The hearing programme and further details will be placed on the Council’s website once they become available at:
https://www.horsham.gov.uk/planning/local-plan/local-plan-examination