The planning committee at Horsham District Council will consider an application for 59 homes on land east of Tilletts Lane in Warnham at its meeting on Tuesday 4 August. The scheme, submitted by The Broadbridge Heath Trust, proposes that 21 of the dwellings will be classed as affordable and that access would be from Knob Hill (formerly Threestile Road) and Tilletts Lane.
Background and local concerns
The site was identified in the Warnham Parish Neighbourhood Plan (2019) for at least 50 houses. Nevertheless, the proposal has prompted strong responses from local people: the council received 81 letters of objection raising issues including harm to wildlife, drainage and flooding risks, and fears that the village would be over‑developed.
Officers have, however, recommended the application for approval. That recommendation is influenced by the council’s current inability to demonstrate a five‑year supply of housing land, a material consideration which typically shifts the planning balance in favour of development where housing delivery is lacking.
Developer case and design aims
Documents submitted with the application argue the development would contribute positively to Warnham. The applicant’s design statement sets out an ambition to create an extension that respects the village’s character and landscape while meeting modern residential standards. In that statement they said:
“The master‑plan shows how an extension to this historic village can be created seamlessly and create a place that feels like it belongs in its surrounding landscape.”
Those behind the scheme say the layout responds to the village’s special character and aims to provide a neighbourhood suitable for 21st‑century living.
Practical matters for residents
If councillors approve the application, the following would be relevant to residents and neighbours:
- Access to the site from Knob Hill and Tilletts Lane, with associated traffic implications for local roads.
- Provision of 21 affordable homes within the total of 59 units.
- Planning conditions or obligations could be imposed to manage drainage, biodiversity mitigation and landscape planting.
Those concerned by the scheme can watch the committee meeting or review the planning officer report ahead of the decision. The final say will rest with the planning committee when it meets on 4 August.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of homes proposed | 59 |
| Affordable homes included | 21 |
| Objections received | 81 letters |
| Committee date | Tuesday 4 August |
As with many parish‑scale developments, the outcome will hinge on how councillors weigh local amenity and environmental concerns against the acknowledged need for housing in the district. The debate when the planning committee meets is likely to reflect longstanding tensions between protecting village character and meeting wider housing targets.
