Development plan branded as ‘madness’

Plans to build four detached houses on a green field site in Upper Beeding are being described by local residents as ‘madness.’

Fairfax Acquisitions are currently seeking planning permission from Horsham District Council to build the houses on land off Church Farm Walk.

But scores of local residents are raising objections with concerns for wildlife in the area and fears that the development would lead to increased traffic problems.

Glen Wilson, who has helped to create a newlyformed CFW Wildlife Protection Group, said: “Residents are quite frankly pulling their hair out with this madness.”

He added: “The planning application is for four houses, likely to be priced at over a million pounds, on a site rich with wildlife including bats, reptiles,butterfliesandbirds, as well as historical interest with its proximity being next to the 12th century St Peter's church.”

Fellow protester Louise Foster has raised concerns about construction vehicles using a narrow lane, as well as wildlife habitat loss. She added: “The proposed development is not within the Upper Beeding Neighbourhood Plan for2018-2031andwasspecificallyassessedas‘notcurrently developable’ in the preparation of that plan.”

Objections are also being raised by Sussex Wildlife Trust which says that the site is “within the River Adur Water Meadows and Wyckham Wood Local Wildlife Site and that the development would destroy a proportion of the site.” It is also concerned that the development might impact on the remaining wildlife site through surface water runoff “and the general litter and pollution associated with having houses in close proximity to designated sites.”