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Horsham District Council turned down plans to build the houses on land at Newhouse Farm, off Old Crawley Road, Roffey, in July following huge public opposition.

But real estate company FCP Land 4 Ltd has lodged an appeal against the council’s decision and a public inquiry is to be held.

However local residents are determined to fight the developers.

Colin Chard and his daughter Emily Jane outside their home near the proposed development site

They have set up a public appeal to raise £13,000 to employ experts to put forward their case at the appeal.

The residents formed a community campaign group known as Keep Our Green Spaces - KOGS - when plans to build the 473 homes were first unveiled.

And KOGS now plans to submit documents of evidence and attend the public inquiry to put forward their case that the site of the proposed homes is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The area earmarked for development is bounded by Old Crawley Road, Sycamore Avenue, New Moorhead Drive, and Beech Road playing fields. There is a public footpath leading across the site which is partly surrounded by an ancient bluebell wood.

A spokesman for KOGS said thatt the £13,000 they want to raise might “sound a lot, but we have one chance and want to submit the best reports by experts in their field.

“The funds will be raised through the specialist CrowdJustice page linked to the law firm acting for us to keep everything accountable.”

See https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/keep-our-green-spaces/The appeal will be heard and decided by the Government’s planning inspectorate.

Horsham community launches £13,000 appeal to fight plans for 473 new houses