Open letter to Horsham District Council
Horsham Society values Rookwood as a Golf Course and the opportunities for recreation and wildlife that it provides. We are concerned over any proposal to develop the site that will conflict with promises given by Horsham District Council in 1992. The Chief Executive and Chief Planning Officer publicly stated that they "cannot ever see the Council allocating this land for housing development".
We also note the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (or SHELAA), Reference SA395 (Dec 2018) states that "it is considered development would be contrary to policies 1 to 4 and 26 with some conflict to policy 31 and 38 of the Horsham District Planning Framework. The site is therefore assessed as not currently developable". The Council should not renege on such promises and assessments.
Meanwhile, the Golf Course brings a regular income to the Council, whilst maintaining green space for recreation and wildlife. Neither the new Local Plan, nor Covid 19, should be seen as an opportunity to sell the Town's assets.
Horsham Society thanks Horsham District Council for having given us the opportunity to review an alternative proposed option for Rookwood Golf Course. We have considered carefully the proposals, reports and plans. We acknowledge the reduced housing on the northern part of Rookwood, but still have concern over the proposed development adjacent to the current Nature Reserve car park. Its
proposed use is still unclear. In addition, the suggested environmentally damaging roundabout outside the Nature Reserve is still a proposal with which we disagree.
We are greatly concerned that the development is considerably increased to the south of the Warnham Road. The new proposal now includes development of the Hole 15, sandwiched between the Riverside Walk, alongside Boldings Brooks, and the Red River. This will have a major impact upon the wildlife and the residents who heavily use this area.
Also, given the current proposals, we can only conclude that the true reason for the rejection of Horsham Society’s 2017 application for Redford Avenue Football Field to be a registered Town Green, was not, as was stated by HDC, an issue with the title of the land. It is now apparent that this pitch was scheduled for a bus access road, cutting across the football pitch, through woodland and across the Riverside Walk.
We note that the proposed school, a key benefit, is now omitted. We question what educational provision will be made for the new residents. Surely, not building a new school will lead to an increase in traffic as families will have to drive to schools with available capacity. For many, it will be beyond walking distance.
The overall damage to wildlife caused by this proposal will be severe, as assessed by Sussex Wildlife Trust and local experts. The responsibility for development is unresolved and unpublicised. There remains a serious expectation that the site will be sold to a developer over whom the council has little control, thus losing any benefit to the Horsham Town.
Horsham Society is particularly concerned over the significant loss of 25% of Horsham Town's large green space. This space is used in harmony by wildlife, walkers and golfers, which is so important for health and well-being, not only during the pandemic, but beyond. With the inevitable rapid growth of Horsham's population, central accessible green spaces and sports pitches becomes even more important. The Council must leave a positive legacy for future generations.
Horsham District Council's own Green Space Strategy emphasises the need for green space: “Grey infrastructure allows us to live in villages, towns and cities. Green infrastructure allows us to live on planet earth”. The Strategy also states that Horsham District currently has two Local Nature Reserves of 42ha (Warnham
Nature Reserve 38ha and Tottington Wood 5ha) for a 130,000 population, which is only 0.3ha per 1000 population. ”A further 88ha is required to meet guidelines.” Rookwood is that opportunity for a growing town.
In addition, the development of Rookwood would appear to run directly counter to the provisions for open space and recreation within the National Planning Policy Framework, February 2019. In paragraph 97 it states that existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, should not be built on unless:
an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements; or
the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or
the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.
Attempting to rush a hasty decision regarding such a rare and important site under the pressure of a deadline does not make good policy, nor inspire any confidence in the outcome.
We cannot support the proposals to develop Rookwood. We ask that Horsham District Council withdraw Rookwood from the list of Strategic Sites. Detailed discussion and consultation need to take place to ensure that Rookwood meets the requirements of an expanding Horsham.
Malcolm Willis
Chairman, Horsham Society
