Plans for 3,000 homes near Crawley to be submitted soon

Homes England will submit a planning application in three weeks to build 3,000 homes West of Ifield near Crawley.

A public notice due to appear in the West Sussex County Times details a hybrid application for the development, which has been repeatedly opposed by Crawley Borough Council.

The application is in two parts – full and outline – and will be submitted to Horsham District Council 21 days after the public notice is published.

The outline part of the application covers the 3,000 homes, business, service, storage and industrial buildings, a hotel, community and education facilities, gypsy and traveller pitches, open space and sports pitches, as well as pedestrian and cycle routes.

The full element covers infrastructure such as the Crawley western relief road (Multi-Modal Corridor), access from Charlwood Road, crossing points, and access infrastructure for the school site and future development.

The northern boundary of the site abuts Charlwood Road, Ifield Avenue,
Bonnets Lane, and Ifield Green.

Save West of Ifield campaign group walked around the area ‘at risk’ (Image: SWOI) On Sunday, June 22, protestors carried out a walk of the area affected.

Organised by the Save West of Ifield (SWOI) campaign group, the campaigners learnt about the various species that live in the area and the area’s heritage, and discussed the possible consequences of the proposed development being built.

Fenella Maitland-Smith, chairwoman of SWOI, said at the time: “The proposals for the West of Ifield appear to be seriously inadequate and likely to have disastrous consequences for residents, both new and existing.

“First, Crawley sewage treatment works are already at capacity, and Thames Water is nearing bankruptcy.

“Homes England’s claim that Thames Water is legally obliged to handle additional capacity is unacceptable, especially with the ongoing sewage spills polluting the River Mole.

“Second, Homes England believe they can meet water neutrality requirements by harvesting rainwater and extracting groundwater through boreholes.

“But the Environment Agency hasn’t yet decided whether this is feasible and sustainable.

“It all sounds like an untested and expensive mitigation.”

The public notice for the plans stated: “This hybrid planning application is for a phased development intended to be capable of coming forward in distinct and separable phases and/or plots in a severable way.

“Any owner of the land or tenant who wishes to make representations about this application, should write to Horsham District Council and
westofifield@homesengland.gov.uk.”