Rethink on new homes required

Much has been said and discussed in recent weeks about meeting housing targets in the Horsham District.

Whilst huge targets for house building have been mentioned (likely to be 1,400 homes a year) we also hear of current housing developments, such as at North Horsham being delayed due to the pandemic, resulting in the reviewing of their strategy for delivery.

Green spaces must be retained and are vital for health as well as the aesthetic benefit.

Horsham is the lovely place to live due to the balance of historic Market town and countryside. The Riverside Walk which encircles the town, Chesworth Farm and Horsham Park have proved invaluable through lockdown for resident’s recreation and mental wellbeing.

The High Weald Landscape Trail starts in Horsham and travels east towards East Sussex.

To the east of the town we are blessed in having parts of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) – astonishingly, the Draft LDP indicated two possible housing locations within this AONB.

This potential destruction of our neighbouring green spaces and countryside can only be described as Eco vandalism.

The green corridors that weave through our green spaces must be retained for the benefit of wildlife.

The pandemic has reinforced public opinion on runaway climate change and wildlife destruction but now we hear the Government have opted for the opposite direction towards changing the planning system to weaken laws protecting habitats and wildlife to make building easier.

There must surely be a