Government Inspector Considers Halting Horsham Council’s Housing Plan

A government inspector is considering a temporary halt to a district council’s housing development scheme, pending the collection of additional data. Horsham District Council’s local plan details the locations and timeline for the construction of 13,000 new residences, projected through 2040. This plan, under development since April 2018, is slated for review across 11 hearing sessions, with the initial session having taken place on Tuesday. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, government inspector Luke Fleming indicated on Thursday that he was evaluating the necessity of a suspension. Concurrently on Thursday, the government unveiled an updated iteration of the National Planning Policy Framework. Although the current examination proceeds under the September 2023 version of the framework, it will be necessary to consider the revisions introduced in the new version. Additionally, the council will be required to prepare a response to this updated framework. Mr. Fleming stated: “It’s entering my mind whether a pause in the hearing programme may be the best solution for all involved while we gather some further information.” Should he not determine otherwise, the hearings are scheduled to proceed during the weeks beginning December 16, January 13, and January 20.