A public inquiry is to be held into a controversial plan to build luxury homes in the grounds of a monastery.

The 24 monks from the Carthusian order at St Hugh's Charterhouse Monastery want to build 16 houses close to Littleworth, near West Grinstead, to raise cash for essential repairs to their 19th Century buildings.

Horsham District Council refused planning permission for the scheme and the Planning Inspectorate has decided to hold a public inquiry on May 1 and 2.

The monastery is one of only two English-speaking Carthusian houses in the world but has been severely affected by rot, damp and a leaking roof.

The building has previously been maintained following cash grants from English Heritage but the order has run out of money and cannot apply for more.

The trustees of the monastery aim to raise £3 million by building homes on part of the 250-acre estate.

Local residents have said the development would be out of character.

The trustees want the houses to be built as far from the monastery as possible because the order wants to be separated from the outside world.