Council maintains opposition to plans for hundreds of houses on Horsham farmland

North Horsham Parish Council raised objections when plans were first revealed for 473 homes on fields off Crawley Road, Roffey.

Hundreds of local residents also voiced concerns and Horsham District Council refused planning permission.

But now developers - real estate company FCP Land 4 Ltd - have lodged an appeal against the decision.

However, the parish council says it is continuing its objections, maintaining that the houses would have a detrimental impact on the site which is within a High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The council also says that the development would amount to a loss of agricultural land, cause damage to nearby woodland and points out a lack of supporting infrastructure.

It also maintains that the development, if it went ahead, would add to traffic problems in the area, already about to be exacerbated by the nearby major development of 2,750 new homes.

The appeal will be heard and decided by the Government’s Planning Inspectorate.