27 March 2025
Update on the Mushroom Farm Planning Appeal DC/24/0021
As many of you are aware, Bellway Homes Ltd lodged an appeal against the decision to object to their application for 247 homes.
The appeal hearing took place on Tuesday 25th. However, the planned one day hearing ran into two days due to the amount of information and arguments presented on Day 1.
Thakeham Parish Council was in attendance on both days.
The main bulk of the discussions that took place were around the size and suitability of the development within the village and how the village has been classified. And the sustainability of the development in terms of employment and transportation links - both public and private to access facilities for work and education outside of the Parish - whether by car, bus or walking and cycling.
Needless to say, Thakeham Parish and Horsham District (HDC) councils were very vocal in challenging assumptions and schemes that had been put forward by Bellway to mitigate the impacts that the proposed development would have.
In this process, the appellant, Bellway Homes had submitted more documentation outside of the time-frames requested by the Inspector. Consequently, the Inspector has chosen to adjourn the hearing so all of the documents can be properly scrutinised and commented on by the relevant authorities and members of the public.
Thakeham Parish Council supports this open approach to extra consultation - even though it will extend the appeal by another month or so.
We are awaiting the process from the Inspector - but everyone will be able to follow this through Horsham District Council's Planning website using the above application number. Thakeham Parish Council understands that this will follow the normal 21 day consultation process where all of the new material will be posted online and available for comment.
The Planning Inspector will then consider any new information/comments before making their final decision.
The Inspector has requested additional documentation from Bellway and HDC be submitted next week, so TPC do not know when these consultation processes will start to take place. When we find out, we will post this information online.
9 February 2025
The Planning Inspectorate has set a date for the hearing of the appeal.
The hearing will be held at 10:00am on 25 March 2025 at a venue to be advised. To view the letter from the Planning Inspectorate, please click on the link below. The decision is expected to be issued on or before 15 April 2025.
1 August 2024
Horsham District Council have refused planning Application DC/24/0021, submitted by Bellway Homes.
To view the decision, please click on the link below: