29 dwellings at Land To The South of Furners Lane, Henfield

What was proposed

The application sought 29 dwellings with landscaping, open space, parking and a new vehicular access.

“The application, as considered at the previous 18 th March 2025 committee meeting, sought planning permission for the erection of 29 dwellings with associated landscaping, open space, parking and creation of new vehicular access. The Committee resolution was to approve the application, subject to the recommended conditions and the completion of a legal agreement.”

Officer report

Changes since March

Off-site highway details were agreed, section 106 negotiations advanced, and the applicant sought removal of three water neutrality conditions.

“This application was last heard on 18 th March 2025 Planning Committee meeting where Members revolved to grant subject to deferral for further details on off-site highway improvements and the completion of a s106 legal agreement. Since then, the off-site highway details have been agreed (see para 1.6 below) and negotiations have advanced on the s106. At the time of writing the s106 is almost at engrossment stage.”

“The applicants had submitted a water neutrality strategy which proposed a combination of onsite efficiencies and offsetting of the remaining water consumption by an off-site borehole or through access to the Council’s Sussex North Water Certification Scheme (SNWCS), formerly the Sussex North Offsetting Water Scheme (SNOWS). This strategy was agreed as demonstrating water neutrality.”

Officer report

Why officers recommended approval

Officers concluded that water savings and a 110-litre daily limit would prevent an adverse effect on the Arun Valley sites.

“As set out in the August committee report, Horsham District is situated in an area of serious water stress, as identified by the Environment Agency. In September 2021, Natural England released a Position Statement which advised all local authorities within the Sussex North Water Supply Zone that it cannot be concluded that existing water abstraction within the Sussex North Water Supply Zone is not having an adverse effect on the integrity of the Arun Valley…”

“On 31 st October 2025 Natural England formally withdrew the 2021 Position Statement, citing a package of measures that they were satisfied would safeguard the Arun Valley sites. Principal amongst these measures is a reduction in the Southern Water abstraction licence ‘by March 2026’.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Natural England raised no objection, and no new consultation responses or representations from identified property addresses were received.

“Where consultation responses have been summarised, it should be noted that Officers have had consideration of the full comments received, which are available to view on the public file at www.horsham.gov.uk…”

“No representations from identified property addresses have been received since the March 2025 committee resolution.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent spoke in support of the application.

Members’ views

Members noted the planning history, welcomed progress on the site and requested a pre-occupation fire-hydrant condition.

“Members noted the planning history of the application.”

“Local Members were pleased with the progress on the site. It was noted that a pre-occupation condition be included in relation to fire hydrants.”

Minutes

Vote and decision

The committee approved the application in accordance with the officer recommendation, subject to adding a fire-hydrant or stored-water condition.

“That DC/24/1538 be approved in accordance with officer recommendation, subject to the inclusion of the following condition:”

“Pre-Occupation Condition: No part of the development hereby permitted shall be occupied until a fire hydrant(s) to BS 750 standards or stored water supply (in accordance with the West Sussex Fire and Rescue Guidance Notes) has been installed, connected to a water supply with appropriate pressure and volume for firefighting, and made ready for use in consultation with the WSCC Fire and Rescue Service. The hydrant(s) or stored water supply shall thereafter be retained as such.”

Minutes