New homes will ‘destroy’ Storrington say campaigners

Fighting For our Fields (FFoF) has been formed by residents of both villages to oppose proposals from Crest Nicholson for land off Water Lane behind Brook Close and Rother Close.

An application has been submitted to Horsham 
District Council and is expected to be heard in mid-September.

Alistair Hopper, of FFoF and who lives in Rother Close, said: “When you look at it, it will destroy the village and eventually Storrington, Thakeham, and West Chiltington will meld into one and we do not want to see it happen.”

Traffic, air pollution, and strain on local services such as schools, doctors’ and dentists’ surgeries, were a few of the concerns in the area,

He explained: “The village can’t sustain it and the traffic is diabolic as it is.”

The site abuts the new Tesla site, which was granted planning permission by Horsham District Council earlier this year.

In particular Mr Hopper drew attention to flooding issues in the area, especially around Brook Close.

HDC’s planning committee rejected 102 houses north of Melton Drive, Storrington, in July and Mr Hopper felt there were some issues that affected them.

He explained: “We are heartened by it but the issue we have got and our concern is they have now gone to appeal, and if it goes to appeal then it’s out of the hands of the local government and the district council.”

According to Crest Nicholson’s design and access statement on HDC’s planning portal the development would aim to avoid negatively impacting the nearby Grade II listed Snapes Cottage, provide 40 per cent affordable housing, and retain as much of the existing landscaping.

It reads: “Overall it is felt that this outline application, being design-led throughout and taking into account all existing constraints (physical, social and environmental), proposes to deliver an appropriate and sustainable new development, that is sympathetic to its context whilst taking best advantage of the opportunities offered by such a remarkable site.”

Mr Hopper added: “We cannot allow developers to apply for permission to build on land where there is insufficient infrastructure to sustain it.

“There is far too much 
development in this area as it is.”

Both Storrington and Thakeham parish councils have submitted strong objections to the application, with Storrington arguing that the village was already at ‘breaking point’.