Surprise as key council meeting delayed

An eleventh-hour delay hit Horsham District Council’s controversial local plan, which pinpoints areas for thousands of new homes to be built in the area.

Councillors were due to consider the plan – which has attracted huge opposition from local residents – at a meeting on Wednesday but it was postponed.

The plan outlined land for housing developments at Buck Barn, Billingshurst, Southwater and west of Ifield.

In a statement the council said: “The Government announced changes to the National Planning Policy Framework on Tuesday, July 20, without notice.

“These changes have significant implications on the Horsham District Local Plan.

“Horsham District Council is now required to prepare a Local plan detailing 30-year vision.

“The current draft Plan prepared under the previous requirements sets out planning policies and proposals to guide development up to 2038 only.

“We have sought legal advice and it is clear that we will need to commission some additional worktosupportthisnew30-year vision requirement.”

Council leader Paul Clarke said: “This is hugely disappointing news.

“We have sought help from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to reduce our housing requirements without any substantive success.

“As a result we have worked hardtoprepareaplanthatwould pass muster with a Planning Inspector in order to protect the district against speculative development.

“The Government consulted on the possible requirement for Local Plans to include a 30-year vision some months ago and we responded asking for guidance on how this could be evidenced. We received no feedback and had no advance warning of this substantive change in the National Planning Policy Framework.

“Worse still, no guidance has been published alongside the changes to the NPPF to explain what local authorities need to do to meet this new requirement.

“Our legal advice is clear that we have no choice but to delay our plan.”

Despite the delay, protesters were determined to show their opposition and still turned out in force with placards outside Horsham District Council’s offices.

And many took to social media to vent their frustrations. Among them was Rosalie Radburn, who said: “Let’s hope it’s a permanent ‘delay’. The clock is at 11.59 for nature.

“Please, let’s preserve the little that’s left to give rural West Sussex a chance.”