Horsham: Council to apply for county's first green belt area

Horsham's Local Plan includes a proposed development for at least 3,000 homes on land west of Ifield

A proposal for land between Horsham and Crawley to be designated as West Sussex's first green belt area is being considered.

Horsham District councillor John Milne made the announcement at a meeting of Rusper Parish Council.

He said: "It's not an easy or quick process.

"If we get it, it will be the first green belt land in the Horsham district."

Mr Milne, deputy leader of Horsham District Council and cabinet member for planning, was speaking during a debate on the district's Local Plan for 2023-2040.

The plan includes a controversial development for at least 3,000 homes on land west of Ifield.

Campaigners against the development say the Local Plan fails to address issues such as water supply and sewage processing for new homes.

A green belt designation would prevent any additional development in the future.

`Green belt' is a specific designation around certain towns and cities where there are greater restrictions on development than land outside those areas.

They are put in place to prevent urban sprawl by keeping rural land permanently open.

`Housing target'

There is currently no designated green belt for Horsham or West Sussex.

The Save West of Ifield group, which is campaigning against the housing development, said an application for green belt status was "unlikely to succeed".

"The site is surrounded by ancient woodland and Local Wildlife Sites, and is home to many highly protected species," it said in a statement.

"This could all be destroyed in order to meet an overinflated housing target that will continue the unsustainable population growth in the area."

The Local Plan, which is currently subject to a public consultation process, is scheduled to be submitted to the Secretary of State in June.

A final decision is expected by the end of the year.

The benefits of any successful bid for green belt designation would not apply until the next Local Plan.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].