A proposed housing development on greenfields in Steyning was the main topic of discussion at a Steyning Parish Council meeting where South Downs MP, Andrew Griffith, was a guest speaker on Thursday evening (11th April).
The MP was invited to take part in a Questions and Answers session as part of Steyning’s Annual Parish Meeting which around 80 residents attended.
Andrew Griffith fielded questions from residents about local concerns, but it was the proposed development on Glebe Farm which sparked the strongest passions - a farmland site which has applied to Horsham District Council for an astonishing 265 houses which would increase the size of the community by more than 10% at a single stroke. Having been rejected by the Neighbourhood Plan and previous Horsham administrations, the site was suddenly included in the Draft Horsham Local Plan which was voted on by Councillors late in 2023.
Residents shared their shock and dismay that development is being considered for this historic farmland at the top of Kings Barn Lane, on land which teams with local wildlife and rare species, regularly floods, has poor road access to the already dangerous A283 and would heap pressure on already stretched school places, GP’s and other facilities.
The number of houses proposed far exceeds the number needed in Steyning and would not be of the type and price to meet the much smaller volume of genuinely local demand.
Andrew Griffith stated that he is “unequivocally against” the site being developed which received a round of applause from the audience. He vowed to fight the application all the way with an impromptu show of hands from those present indicating unanimous opposition by attendees.
The MP stated that brownfield development is the preferred route for building sustainable communities, saying “we recycle everything else in life, so why not recycle the most valuable commodity – land?”. He contrasted the hypocrisy of Horsham Council “declaring a ‘climate emergency’ one minute and giving the green light to build on precious nature and farmland the next.”
Other areas of concern raised with the MP in the meeting included Southern Water’s management of storm overflows, potholes on roads and footpaths, the desire to protect access to cash, and improving mobile and broadband signal in the town.
The meeting also included a presentation from Horsham District Council about their recent acquisition of 34 acres of a wildlife-rich site known as Bramber Brooks. Peter Cranford, Head of Parks and Countryside, presented the council’s plans for the site and the work to be undertaken by the Environment Agency to improve the habitat.
Andrew Griffith said:
“I am grateful to the Steyning Parish Council Chairman, Joanna Norcross, for inviting me to join this well attended meeting. As MP, I am always happy to support our communities and to hold myself publicly account to the residents whom it is my privilege to represent in Westminster.
It’s sad that a vibrant community such as Steyning finds itself under siege from development in Horsham’s local plan. It’s a special place to live and residents have my support in trying to keep it that way.”
