Building works will be delayed
Landowner says focus is still on delivery of new school
Plans to build thousands of new homes on a massive estate north of Horsham have been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Landowners Legal & General revealed they had hoped by now to have started main access works for the development which will see 2,750 homes built, along with a new school – Bohunt Horsham – and a business park, sports hub and new pedestrian, bicycle and road connections.
A spokesman said: “As you can imagine, Covid-19 has impacted our ability to progress certain aspects of our work. We are in the process of reviewing our overall strategy for delivery at Horsham given the challenging situation we are currently all facing.”
But the company says that much of its focus continues to be on supporting the delivery of the new Bohunt Horsham School: “We are excited to have such a great facility being delivered at such an early stage of the development and continue to work with a range of partners to service the school land for opening.”
“Our team is currently progressing plans for the main access works and utilities, including a substation, foul pumping station and other critical infrastructure for the school.
“We also continue to progress our vision for the first phase of the development.
“The first phase is in the centre of the overall development, accessed off the A264, and we are keen to establish a community from the outset that is welcoming, inclusive and built to last.”
Legal & General says that it is finalising its Design and Landscape Strategy, which ‘will set out the vision for design and quality, place making and scene setting’. Further documents will be produced for the second and third phases.
As master developer, Legal & General says it “will deliver the main public areas of the development, including roads, green spaces and community facilities.
“The team also manages the way in which the land is sold to housing developers, which ensures consistency and coherence, given that the new homes and commercial buildings will be built by different housebuilders and contractors.
“The Design and Landscape Strategy will ensure these meet our quality and design aspirations for the site.”
Originally, Legal & General had hoped its first phase either side of Rusper Road would see around 1,000 homes completed over the next five years, with the first people moving in by late 2021. The company says it will now, as soon as it is able, provide an updated timeline.
Meanwhile it has appointed Sammie Bryans as development director and Will Sendell as development manager to lead the project.