‘Alternative’ development plans for Rookwood ‘still not acceptable’

Horsham District Council promoted land north and south of Warnham Road for up to 1,100 homes and is one of several strategic sites being considered for allocation in its own local plan review. Since the plans were revealed earlier this year they have attracted massive opposition, with campaigners concerned about the loss of green space and impact on the remaining areas such as Warnham Local Nature Reserve. In response, the council says it is now ‘considering’ an alternative scheme for 750-870 homes instead, which also opens up the area to wider public recreational use. Housing would be focused on areas of ‘current low biodiversity’ along the managed fairways of the golf course and on protection of existing trees and sensitive corridors such as Boldings Brook and the Riverside Walk. Extra buffer zones would be created to protect and extend the nature reserve providing new habitats, a council spokesperson added. In drawing up an alternative plan, the council will engage with Sussex Wildlife Trust, The Friends of Warnham Nature Reserve and other stakeholders to discuss the proposals. A statement from the Keep Rookwood Green Alliance said: “We are delighted that the council recognise the importance of the evidence we have provided on protecting wildlife, biodiversity, connectivity and green space amenity. It is clear to us that the cheapest option is to leave Rookwood alone as it already works as a valuable resource for wildlife and for people’s health and wellbeing. “It is good that they are having a rethink. We need to see the plans and timetable to back up their ideas and promises. In 1992 they promised the golf course would protect the land from housing development. “Now we know there have been three years of secrecy developing the existing proposal. The council needs to invest the same time and consideration in any new proposal and on this occasion work with stakeholders who have the local intelligence to create a robust plan fit for modern times. We welcome the invitation to be part of that group since communities need to be engaged with the decision-making process. “It seems that this determination to build at Rookwood is a knee-jerk reaction to the financial challenge of Covid. The new proposal needs to address the long term challenges we face: species extinction, accessible greenspace for health and wellbeing and the changing role of town centres and changes in local employment. The world has changed since the plan was written. “We want a legacy for Horsham – for our children and grandchildren - one of which our generation can be proud. “We need to take the whole of Rookwood site out of the Local Plan.” Just last week Horsham Trafalgar Neighbourhood Council wrote an open letter to Horsham district councillors imploring them to ask questions in private members’ briefings about the process followed in relation to the proposal to build on Rookwood. It expressed concern that HDC had judged the land undevelopable as recently as December 2018, as it was contrary to several key planning policies, and asked why the draft plans funded with public money were not made public much earlier. The letter also questioned why the full presentation of the Rookwood proposals has still not been made public, and why HDC has not considered any other use for this land besides housing. Speaking to the County Times this week, Martin Boffey, the neighbourhood council’s chairman, said: “We can only sell Rookwood once. Surely a responsible steward of the council’s assets would consider all the options in public before making a choice that precludes all others? These questions remain unanswered. “Not only that, but HDC have now released yet another proposal without any consultation. It saddens me greatly that less than one week since we buried our dear colleague councillor Leonard Crosbie, who gave 25 years of loyal and truly caring service to the people of Trafalgar, HDC’s leadership continues to exclude local residents from any say over the fate of their own neighbourhood. “HDC’s new proposal is to leave most of the northern site undeveloped, at the expense of concentrating housing in the southern site – which is almost entirely in Trafalgar ward. Yet they are still targeting 870 houses for this reduced area, not much less than the 1,100 that was planned for the whole site. The only way they could manage this is by significantly increasing the density of housing to be built. “I have lost count of the number of Trafalgar residents who have written to me over the last few months, or asked me in the street: ‘Where would we have been during lockdown without Rookwood?’ Somehow these good people are now expected to be grateful that the accessible green space on their doorstep is to be taken away, but instead they will be given access to a small patch of land on the other side of both a busy road and a brand new housing estate. This simply isn’t good enough. “HDC cabinet members repeatedly tell us that no decision has been made about Rookwood. However, cabinet’s persistence in promoting this scheme belies the truth - that they decided on this policy years ago and kept it from the public. Most people also don’t realise that HDC won’t even get all the money – half of the profit goes to the previous owners of the land. “Selling Rookwood never appeared in any election manifesto. As it stands, this key policy will have been presented, voted on and implemented without a single council taxpayer being given the opportunity to pass judgement on it at the ballot box. In this day and age, that is quite simply a disgrace.” Neil Henry, on behalf of the Trustees of Friends of Warnham Local Nature Reserve, said: “The Friends of Warnham Local Nature Reserve (FoWLNR) welcome any reassessment of the original proposal to build on the Rookwood site and particularly on the land which borders the reserve itself. “The aim of FoWLNR (Registered Charity No.1171924) is to ensure the conservation, protection and improvement of the Reserve for the benefit of both the public and the wildlife. It is clear that the Rookwood land forms an essential part of the reserve’s environment. We note that the new proposal still includes the intention to build on the northern part of the site adjacent to the reserve. However, we are prepared to work with Horsham District Council and other stakeholders to develop a proposal that enhances and protects Warnham Local Nature Reserve and it’s connectivity as a ‘green jewel’ in Horsham’s crown.” Talk is increasing of further lockdowns in the UK. What do you think of the situation? Join the Big Conversation and have your say on everything from healthcare to how the pandemic has affected you personally and how we make our communities stronger.