Horsham MP to ask Housing Minister to overrule ‘maverick’ decision on Local Plan

The government-appointed planning inspector, Mr Luke Fleming, finally gave his verdict on Horsham District Council’s (HDC) new local plan and it’s not good news for Horsham District.

Mr Fleming has recommended HDC withdraw the local plan as he believes HDC has failed in its ‘duty to co-operate’ and should have provided significantly more new houses across the district including for Crawley’s unmet housing need.

Horsham Liberal Democrats believe the planning inspector has reached this flawed decision by failing to understand how ‘water neutrality’ places Horsham in a unique situation. Water neutrality means the district is legally prevented from building the much higher number of houses that he is seeking. This is to protect the sensitive natural habitat at Pulborough Brooks.

John Milne, MP for Horsham, will be raising the issue directly with the Minister for Housing, Matthew Pennycook, recommending the Minister ‘calls-in’ and overturns the inspector’s decision.

The Council started work on the new local plan in 2018, but a succession of Conservative leaders from 2019-23 were unable to agree where the new housing should be built. This opened up the district to the current situation, where HDC has been fighting with one hand behind its back to prevent the approval of many unwelcome speculative developments.

Liberal Democrats were elected in May 2023 to end the years of Conservative planning chaos, and made the new local plan their top priority.

This local plan includes greatly enhanced environmental protections and a lower target of 480 homes for the next 5 years, instead of the circa 1200 under the Conservatives. The Lib Dem plan reduced the target for major sites such as West of Ifield from 10,000 houses down to 3,000 houses.

The plan was agreed at Council in December 2023 with a degree of cross party support.

The Lib Dem leadership of HDC will continue to fight for the best outcome for the district. Possible courses of action could include asking for a Judicial Review of the decision.

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Martin Boffey (Lib Dem) comments:

“This is a maverick decision that helps no one. Bearing in mind the need for HDC to carry out local government reorganisation at the same time, there is no realistic prospect of doing what’s been asked of us.”

John Milne MP is raising the issue with the Minister for Housing, Mathew Pennycook:

“We cannot have a situation whereby a whole district is made to suffer because of the bizarre actions of a single inspector. It’s clear from his comments during the hearing that Mr Fleming does not understand the unique problems posed by water neutrality. Mr Fleming raised no concerns in advance of the hearings, as he should have done. This decision must be reversed and I will ask the Minister for his support.”