Consultation opens over plans for up to 1,000 homes

A public consultation into a housing development near a West Sussex village has opened.

Plans submitted to Horsham District Council could see the construction of up to 1,000 homes on land north west of Southwater.

Paul Russell, a member of the Save Rural Southwater group, said a "phenomenally high number of properties" had been proposed.

Developer Berkeley Group said 35% of the homes would be categorised as affordable housing and that there would also be a new nursery, primary school and secondary school, along with about 59 hectares (146 acres) of green open space.

Southwater Parish Council said the "semi-rural area" near Horsham had a population of about 12,500.

Plans also include a mixed-use neighbourhood centre, education facilities, business floor space, redevelopment of existing agricultural buildings, improvements to public rights of way, sports pitches, gypsy and traveller plots, landscaping, and associated infrastructure, it adds.

Russell said the area was already seeing a "big influx" of new homes.

"What we have left surrounding us is beautiful green countryside," he said.

The public consultation ends on 23 April.

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