Source: Homes England flyer and website
Source: Homes England flyer and website

Introduction

here are updates related to the Homes England proposals to develop up to 10,000 homes in Horsham ‘West of Ifield’.

Horsham Local Plan

Homes England’s proposal to develop site SA101 (this is the reference number for the site in the Horsham draft local plan) has been recommended for incorporation into Horsham District Councils (HDC) draft ‘Reg 19’ Local Plan by its Cabinet and is due to be discussed at its special Full Council meeting on Wednesday 28th July. This site comprises the land owned by Homes England – the residual New Towns commission land plus the Ifield Golf club site. Homes England’s proposals are for the development of 3250 homes, although HDC’s policy refers to ‘up to 3900’ homes.

The HDC Full Council meeting takes place at 18.00 on Wednesday 28th July. It should be available online according to the HDC website Horsham District Council : Monthly meetings calendar – July 2021 (moderngov.co.uk) as described below:

From HDC website: ‘Public access to meetings

Statutory meetings will be live audio-streamed on our website – click on the meeting name in the Calendar below to access. They are also live-streamed on our YouTube channel. At present, due to Covid restrictions, we cannot guarantee sufficient space for members of the public to attend, unless participating (eg speaking at a Planning Committee).

Most of our statutory meetings will be live audiostreamed on our YouTube channel via this link. Meetings held on-line between May 2020 and April 2021 are also available on our Youtube pages.’

You can also download the papers for the meeting although this does not include a copy of the Draft Local plan. You can get the draft Local plan here: (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Cabinet, 15/07/2021 17:30 (moderngov.co.uk)  Please note that this is a large file – 498 pages (19mb) so you need to have appropriate technology available to view it I.e. probably best not done from a smartphone.

Save West of Ifield – resident group

There is a resident led group in Ifield now that is actively looking for supporters. It is not exclusive to Ifield residents and there are people from outside Crawley involved as well, with a lot of interest and support from the Rusper Road area. They have a new website: Save West of Ifield and a Facebook page: Save West of Ifield | Facebook

The Save West of Ifield residents group are planning a demonstration outside Horsham Town Hall prior to the Full Council meeting. Details are here: (1) Protest at Horsham Council | Facebook

 

SWoI Logo
SWoI Logo

There is a resident led group in Ifield now that is actively looking for supporters. It is not exclusive to Ifield residents and there are people from outside Crawley involved as well, with a lot of interest and support from the Rusper Road area. They have a new website: Save West of Ifield and a Facebook page: Save West of Ifield | Facebook

The Save West of Ifield residents group are planning a demonstration outside Horsham Town Hall prior to the Full Council meeting. Details are here: (1) Protest at Horsham Council | Facebook

Homes England

Homes England held their ‘Second engagement event’ in March 2021 and their full ‘report’ published on 9th June is here: Second Engagement Event – Report and Q&As (commonplace.is)

Homes England have invited residents that live along the Rusper Road to a zoom call on Thursday 29th July as they recognise that these residents may have ‘questions for us that are specific to your location’. This has been interpreted by some people as meaning that the acceptance by HDC of the West of Ifield site is a ‘done deal’ but I don’t think that this is the case at all. More likely Homes England will pursue this site irrespective of the outcome of the HDC Full Council.  Homes England can pursue planning permission for this site right up to the Plan inspection (in HDC Local plan schedule for Spring/Summer 2022) and beyond.

We welcome more detailed discussion with Ifield and Ifield West residents and have been calling for this to happen. But it would be better if they would engage with your local Councillors to agree a schedule of events and subjects so that we can ensure that all residents issues get addressed in some way.

West of Ifield questionnaire

We continue to receive responses to our survey of residents opinions – we now have well over 500 responses, which helps to support our arguments when we put them to Homes England and others. We have broadened the target audience for the survey to all Crawley residents as we recognise that although Ifield and Ifield West residents will suffer most from the main downsides of the Homes England proposals, in fact, they will have an impact on the whole of Crawley including impacts on traffic/congestion, jobs, services etc, etc.

You can complete the questionnaire by clicking here: West of ifield Survey

Your Ifield and Ifield West councillors continue to speak up for residents in the ongoing discussions with Homes England and Horsham District Council. If you have questions or concerns about the Homes England proposals feel free to contact us at any time.

Contact your Ifield Borough Councillors

Cllr Sandra Buck     Cllr Peter Smith    

07886 209381               07703 502430

sandra.buck@crawley.gov.uk  peter.smith@crawley.gov.uk

Or contact your Ifield County Councillors

Cllr Chris Oxlade     Cllr Alison Cornell

07710 900813                  07760 111152

chris.oxlade@westsussex.gov.uk    alison.cornell@westsussex.gov.uk

Link to Instagram Link to Twitter Link to YouTube Link to Facebook Link to LinkedIn Link to Snapchat Close Fax Website Location Phone Email Calendar Building Search