New battle over ‘vital green space’ near Horsham town centre

A planning application has been lodged with Horsham District Council to build a two-storey detached house on land at Hadmans Close at its junction with Denne Road.

But residents living near the plot say it would mean a building only a few feet from the front of their homes.

And, they say, the patch of land currently has a number of trees on it which are subject to preservation orders.

Three previous attempts to build on the land have been halted by council planners.

One objector to the latest proposal - Pauline Kirkman - said: “This is a vital green space through which runs a public footpath.

“It is recognised by the council who maintain the area and is marked as an important plot by the Horsham Society.”

A neighbour added: “We need to keep and protect green spaces in towns, we must not let them be swallowed up by housing.

“They are important for the mental and physical health of the community.”

The objectors say the proposed building would harm the character and appearance within the Horsham Conservation area “resulting in the loss of an important and attractive green space and trees adjacent to public walkways and roads.

“Development would make a nonsense of conservation policy and Tree Preservation Orders that are in place for the benefit of the general public. All the reasons for previous refusals are still legal.”

They add: “There are very few areas of green so close to the town centre: to destroy this specific area would be against all previous decisions.”