Parish council seeks advice on neighbourhood plan

Mike Morgan was in favour of deferring the decision. Pic Steve Robards SUS-150414-132514001

At the meeting held on Tuesday in Henfield Hall, in Coopers Way, Henfield, parish councillors voted to defer their decision until they had gathered information from Horsham District Council and Locality – a national network enterprising community-led organisations.

Chairman of Henfield Parish Council Ray Osgood said at the meeting: “We will get in contact with Locality for protection of any future neighbourhood plans.

“They provide neighbourhoods with a government grant to help them prepare a plan. I have checked with them and we would be eligible for grant support up to £9,000.”

There is an additional £6,000 available if the neighbourhood hits set criteria. However, Mr Osgood did not think these applied to Henfield.

Mr Osgood believed Henfield’s neighbourhood plan was quashed because they had failed to identify the site at Sandgate nurseries in the development plan.

The original Sandgate plan from Stonegate Homes proposed 82 new homes on site but was met with rejection by groups of Henfield residents.

He added: “I have also spoken to Horsham and they said the Sandgate Nurseries development is really important to the neighbourhood plan. By dealing with the Sandgate development we can discover how far back into the plan we need to go.

“I think we should defer any further decision and make an informed decision in January to move forward.”

HDC and Henfield parish council member Mike Morgan supported the deferral.

He said: “I think we should defer until January or until we have more information on the Sandgate application.

“Horsham are still looking into the implications of the neighbourhood plan and are doing all they can to help.”

The parish council voted unanimously to defer their decision until they had obtained further information.

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