®Planning appeal decision
Horsham Golf Club, Denne Park, Horsham , RH13 0AX
the development of a Sports and Leisure Hub including the provision of communal facilities, nursery, golf college, sports club house (containing health & fitness spa, changing facilities and food & beverage) and an educational facility for Warren Clark Golfing Dreams (Use Classes E, F1 & F2); a local centre containing a convenience store and co-working space (Use Classes E & F2); the provision of supporting landscaping, open space and related infrastructure; outdoor sports and leisure provision comprising driving range, reprovision of golf (including supporting golf facilities) and hockey (including pitches and training area) (Use Class F2) and up to 800 dwellings (Use Class C3) (all matters reserved save for access)
- Authority
- Horsham District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Young D
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The degree to which the proposed development would result in landscape and visual harm to the local area
- Whether future residents of the development would be able to conveniently access local facilities including education provision through non-car modes of transport
- Overall compliance with the Development Plan and whether any harms would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the appeal scheme
What decided it
The overriding and urgent need for housing, combined with the Council's inability to demonstrate anything close to a five-year housing land supply, meant the substantial benefits of the scheme clearly outweighed the moderate landscape harm and policy conflicts.
The very substantial benefits of housing delivery, the water neutrality solution, sports and community facilities, and transport improvements clearly outweighed the moderate landscape harm and conflict with HDPF Policies 25, 26 and 27 and SNP Policy 1, even on a flat section 38(6) balance.
Framework references: 11, 14, 69, 70, 108, 109, 110, 114, 115, 117, 119, 201
Plan policies cited: Policy 25, Policy 26, Policy 27, Policy 40, HDPF Policy 1, SNP Policy 1, Policy 9 of the Southwater Neighbourhood Plan, Policy M9
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.