Plans for 10,000 new homes between Horsham and Crawley ‘not supported’

The leader of Crawley Borough Council has said the authority does not support plans to build more than 10,000 homes west of Ifield.

Homes England, the government’s housing agency, wants to develop the massive site to include 35 per cent affordable housing, five primary schools, two secondary schools and a western relief road.

In its strategic plan for 2018-2023, Homes England said the aim was to ‘begin major infrastructure work and start construction of the first 200 homes in Ifield by 2022/23’.

While the new homes would butt on to Crawley’s Ifield neighbourhood, the land falls on Horsham’s side of the boundary, meaning the district would be the decision maker on any application which eventually came forward.

It’s a familiar story for Crawley. The ongoing Kilnwood Vale development is just south of the proposed site.

Responding to a question from a member of the public at a recent meeting who asked if the council supported the Homes England plans, leader Peter Lamb said:”We do not support the application.”

Mr Lamb added that Crawley had ‘a number of concerns that we’ve related to Homes England about the proposals which have yet to be addressed in any submission that we’ve seen’.

A council spokesman added: “Whatever the outcome we will work tirelessly to ensure that Homes England and Horsham District Council are aware of how the development will impact upon our town and our residents.

“We’d urge anyone with an interest in these proposals to have their say at Homes England’s consultation events over the coming months.”