'Frustration' at delays to Horsham local plan hearings
An inspector has called them to a halt, saying he's concerned about the plan's soundness
Horsham District Council has described the halting of its Local Plan examination as ‘unnecessary’ and ‘incredibly frustrating’.
Inspector Luke Fleming – who was appointed by the Secretary of State to carry out an examination of the Plan – wrote to the council on Monday (December 16) to say he had ‘significant concerns about the soundness and legal compliance of the Plan’.
As such, only three days into the examination hearing, he cancelled the remaining sessions, which were due to run until January 21st.
In a letter to Mr Fleming, the council described his actions as ‘premature’ and asked him to re-consider his position and to contemplate re-opening the hearings in the new year.
The authority said that no explanations or feedback had been shared by Mr Fleming regarding his decision.
Ruth Fletcher, cabinet member for planning & infrastructure, said: “This unnecessary delay is incredibly frustrating. The benefits of passing this Plan are obvious in terms of controlling speculative development.
“Passing the Plan will mean more affordable homes. It will mean that new homes will be warm homes, that residents can afford to heat, and that help us meet our carbon standards.
“It will mean better protection for our green spaces and for wildlife. It will mean getting infrastructure such as schools, doctors, leisure facilities and networks for walking and cycling delivered along with the new housing.
“The government has a stated aim to ensure all areas of the country are covered by a Local Plan and we will continue to explore every avenue to meet this requirement so that decisions about where new homes go in our district can be taken locally.
“In the meantime, the council will continue to carry out its duties in terms of determining planning applications. We will also be getting in touch with parish councils when we know more to explore the implications for Neighbourhood Plans, including those which are yet to be finalised.”
The Plan sets out where and when new homes will be built up to the year 2040.
Meanwhile, the town's MP has warned that delays could see more housing added to the district council's yearly target.
John Milne, who used to serve as deputy leader of the council as well as cabinet member for planning & infrastructure, spoke during the first hearing session when he said believed the Local Plan would be found sound.
Following the decision to cancel the remaining sessions, Mr Milne said: “This is a very unexpected turn of events and it comes with high risks for Horsham.
“Expectations are being raised in some quarters about a reduction in our housebuilding targets, but this could bring the exact opposite outcome.
“Far from responding to doubts about any particular site, the Inspector is potentially adding even more.
“For the last two years we’ve lived through a crazy situation whereby one law says we have to build at least 900 homes a year, and the other says we can’t build any homes at all if they require more water.”
Mr Milne said: “This latest delay risks us having to switch to preparing a Plan under Labour’s new rules, and that means even less local control over development.
“Under the previous Conservative system, the council was forced to accept urban sprawl across the countryside. It’s extraordinary to see the new government acting to make things even worse.
“Potentially they could increase our annual target from under 500 in the current paused plan to over 1,800. Clearly, this would require many additional sites.
“Given the strength of feeling against the sites already included, it’s setting up an impossible task for any administration at Horsham District Council.”