2022-07-22 11:57:09 +0100
To: Horsham District Council Planning Department
SAVE RURAL SOUTHWATER
UPDATED - March 2023 - The Berkeley Homes application for development of 1500 houses, a school, shops, leisure facilities and a traveller site on farmland North and West of Southwater , submitted in October 2022 was withdrawn in February. Over 1350 individual objections were submitted directly to Horsham District Council, however, this is likely to be a temporary reprieve pending publication of the delayed updated Horsham District Plan which is now expected in the second half of 2023.
Why is this important?
The delayed draft District Plan, which was prepared and recommended for adoption by HDC planning officers, massively extended the Built Up Area Boundary of Southwater Village to include farmland and ancient woodlands between Worthing Road and Two Mile Ash Road right up to the A24, providing for a minimum of 1200 new homes, employment and community facilities. The draft plan acknowledged, but totally ignored the wishes and needs of the community as expressed in the democratically consulted on, approved and adopted Southwater Neighbourhood Plan. It imposed a hugely greater development burden on the village which has been subjected to non-stop development and expansion since the 1980's and would more than quadruple the village boundary over that period.
So there remains a significant risk that the HDC draft plan, when it is published later this year, will retain in some form, the 'strategic allocation' of this land. For decades, Southwater has been used by HDC as a convenient dumping ground for its housing trgets.
This is why we say to HDC "Enough is Enough". Respect the housing cap in the Southwater Neighbourhood Plan for the full period of the District Plan, to 2039.
If you have not already done so please sign the petition and encourage your neighbours and friends to do so. Every signature counts.
