Post by Mark Fessey

Congratulations to Horsham District on publishing local plan proposed mods that boost the housing land supply by around 4,000 homes such that the housing requirement can move from circa LHN -15% to LHN +25%. https://lnkd.in/eR98hf-t This new approach reflects: A) the recent lifting of the requirement for water neutrality within the Sussex North Water Supply Zone; and B) a need to provide for unmet need from Crawley (half) and coastal West Sussex (a little). The supply boost comes from a new settlement (which will deliver around half its capacity in the plan period) plus 18 other allocations, including with a focus on sites that can deliver early, viable sites that can deliver on policy asks and sites in the south of the District in relative proximity to Brighton etc. The SA Report is only 49 pages (plus a two page non-tech summary) and primarily presents an appraisal of 6 reasonable alternative 'growth scenarios', where Scenario 1 is the preferred approach and the other scenarios look to deliver either the same growth quantum or higher. The variables are: 1) the choice of new settlement (Adversane or Buck Barn); 2) the option of a further strategic urban extension at Billingshurst; and 3) a package of six non-strategic omission sites for ~400 homes in total. The growth scenarios appraisal communicates the pros and cons of the six scenarios, and in light of the appraisal the Council is able to conclude that Scenario 1 is 'justified' in that it represents an appropriate strategy etc. I do like mods work like this because it shows that plan-making can be logical/rational and doable! The Council has moved at lightening pace, following receipt of the new Inspector's written steer on 5th May. There's a suite of associated new evidence work, including a Site Assessment Report that fed into the growth scenarios, and overall it's an amazing effort. The Council is also currently consulting on the scope of the next local plan!