350 objections to 117 homes planned for Borde Hill

The outline application from Fairfax Acquisitions Ltd, for land at Borde Hill Lane, will be put to a meeting of the planning committee on Thursday (July 16).

Originally, the plan was to build 125 homes – 30 per cent of which would be classed as affordable – while increasing the size of the Balcombe Road roundabout and adding an extra arm to allow access to the development.

This proposal attracted 200 letters of objection, with concerns raised including over-development, the enlarged roundabout being out of character with the area, and the development being unsustainable and reliant on residents owning cars.

The updated plans reduced the number of homes and proposed a smaller enlargement of the roundabout – but the council still received another 151 objections.

The site was not allocated for housing in the district’s Development Plan.

But a report to the committee said: “Given the inability of the council to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply and the goal of national policy to significantly boost the delivery of housing, it is considered that the delivery of this residential accommodation should be afforded substantial positive weight in the planning balance.”

The report added: “There would also be economic benefits from the proposal, both during construction phase and from the increased spend within the local economy once the development is occupied. The proposal would also result in a net gain in biodiversity.”

To view the application, log on to pa.midsussex.gov.uk and search for DM/25/3129.