BREAKING NEWS: Green light for nearly 500 Billingshurst homes

JPCT-15-09-11 SC11380252a Billingshurst countryside, fields to the east of houses, from along public footpath found opposite Catholic church, eastwards off A272 -photo by steve cobb

Members of Save Billingshurst Action Group voiced their concerns at today’s Development Control South Committee meeting at Park North, North Street, Horsham.

David Mowling, chairman of Save Billinshurst Action Group, said he was ‘devastated’ by the decison.

He said: “I’m very disappointed with Horsham District Council and the vote and I think it will be a big problem for Billingshurst.”

While local members Adam Breacher, Gordon Lindsay and Kate Rowbottom outlined the reasons they did not agree with the proposals, they and others felt that they had no chance of defending the application on appeal.

Therefore members felt it was better to approve the application so they had control over the development and community funding, including an extra £1.72m provided by developers.

A new spine road, a new junction with the A272, open spaces, and land for new primary school, are proposed as part of the scheme for 475 houses.

Billingshurst’s chamber of commerce and community partnership both spoke in favour of the application.

Developers submitted an application for 550 homes on land east of the A272, but it was rejected in July 2012 by Horsham District Council.

For more reaction see our website today and in this Thursday’s County Times.