Affordable homes scheme in Cowfold approved

The mix of flats and houses on land off Alley Groves near the playing field was approved by Horsham District Council’s Development Control South Committee on Monday November 17.

Residents raised objections over traffic, especially construction vehicles using Fairfield Cottages, and the impact on the public footpath running through the site.

Member of the public Neal Twitchen raised concerns that the council had stated as a guide not to see more than ten to 12 affordable housing units in one location.

Objector Bill Lucas also raised the use of Fairfield Cottages and Alley Groves for access to the site as a concern, arguing that it was regularly half blocked with parked cars.

But the agent for the scheme Harry Groucott said they had spent three years working on an ‘exhaustive design process’ to deliver ‘high quality, low density development of 100 per cent affordable homes’.

Roger Clarke (Con, Cowfold, Shermanbury and West Grinstead) said: “This amenity will be lost to the local community. I feel this is an insensitive application.”

He added: “There is an identified need for affordable housing in Cowfold. I would question whether there is a proven need for this quantity and whether it should be in one large development and whether this is the right location for it.”

But most members of the committee argued the proven need for affordable housing made the application acceptable.