Green space homes plans concerns

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

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

But scores of local residents have raised objections, with concerns for wildlife in the area and fears 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, butterflies and birds, as well as historical interest with its proximity being next to the 12th century St Peter's church.”

Fellow protester Louise Foster raised the issue of 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 for 2018-2031 and was specifically assessed as ‘not currently developable’ in the preparation of that plan.”

Objections were also raised by Sussex Wildlife Trust, which said that the site was ‘within the River Adur Water Meadows and Wyckham Wood Local Wildlife Site and that the development would destroy a proportion of the site’.