Henfield Neighbourhood Plan
2015-2035
Site Assessments Report
1.
Introduction & Purpose
1.1
The purpose of this report is to provide a summary of sites assessed for potential allocation for
housing development in Policy 2 of the Pre-Submission Henfield Neighbourhood Plan (HNP).
The report is published alongside the HNP as part of its evidence base.
1.2
The assessment follows on from the methodology for strategic housing land availability
assessment documents outlined in the good practice document published by DCLG in 2007,
as adopted by Horsham District Council in its 2014 Strategic Housing Land Availability
Assessment (SHLAA).
1.3
Sites assessed are those identified by the Neighbourhood Plan process and those responding
to the call for sites.
1.4
This report comprises an assessment of the following sites:
 the eleven sites proposed to be allocated for housing development in the HNP, including
two sites that were assessed as unsuitable in the SHLAA;
 The ten sites assessed as unsuitable for housing development and are not proposed for
allocation in the HNP.
1.5
In doing so, it qualifies, where relevant, the assessment made in the SHLAA and it applies an
additional assessment required of a Neighbourhood Plan, i.e. that of acceptability in order to
win majority support from the local community at referendum.
1.6
The Site Assessment Plan included in this report shows the eleven sites proposed to be
allocated for housing development in the HNP, plus the ten sites assessed as unsuitable for
housing development that are not proposed for allocation in the HNP. This report will be
published alongside the Pre Submission document.
2.
Background to Housing Development Issues in Henfield
2.1
The proposed vision for Henfield in the HNP is:
Objective/Vision Statement
By 2035 Henfield and its wider parish will have become a place where:
A programme of planned and controlled house building and some other development has
resulted in sustainable, integrated and sympathetic growth. Development has been of high
quality and appropriate in scale and has resulted in affordable housing for people with links to
Henfield, created employment opportunities along with the provision of the necessary support
services and utility infrastructure improvements that have been implemented with the
development programme.
2.2
This Site Assessments Report has informed the means by which the proposed housing site
allocations in Policy 2 of the HNP have been selected and it is therefore published in the
evidence base for the Plan.
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3. Site Assessment Summaries
Part 1
3.1 Each of the eleven of the assessed sites potentially acceptable is included below:
To be completed following further consultation at open days
Part 1
3.2 Each of the ten of the assessed sites considered unacceptable is included below:
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SITE NAME
Site 4: Land behind Dropping Holms
Site Location
Land to the South West side of the village.
Outside but adjacent the Built up Area Boundary.
The site comprises a wedge shaped parcel of Its
northern boundary abuts the existing BUAB the edge
of which is defined by the rear gardens of
Chanctonbury View and to the south Sandy Lane.
2.12 Ha
5.24 Acres
Greenfield site
The land is Grade II agricultural land with mature
hedgerows and trees adjoining.
Gross Site Area
Current Use
Notes
SUITABILITY
HDC 2004 SHLAA defined as not developable.
HDC Local Development framework Inspectors
Report 2007 dismissed site and expressed strong
views against development
HDC SHLAA 2014 did not consider site
Fails HNP Sequential test as it is on west side of
village with poor site access and access to the wider
road network.
The site is prominent in its local and wider context
and being in agricultural use provides a rural setting
to the village and a buffer between the rural nature of
Sandy Lane and the horticultural uses to the South
from the suburban development in Chanctonbury
View to the north. Any residential development
would diminish this role and appear as an intrusion
of urban development in the countryside being
unrelated to the existing settlement pattern.
Development would have an adverse effect on views
in/out of the village
ACHIEVABILITY & AVAILABILITY
Responded to call for sites. Land is managed by a
trust and the agent has indicated that the land is
available for development and could deliver up to 50
dwellings.
ACCEPTABILITY
Not acceptable.
Fails HNP Sequential test.
It is considered to be an incongruous and prominent
extension of the built up area into the countryside.
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SITE NAME
Site 19: Land South of Hollands Lane
Site Location
Land to the South West Village.
Outside but adjacent the BUAB at its very northern
end only.
Bounded to the West and South to the lower levels
of the Adur flood plain in agricultural use,
horticultural uses to the east.
Gross Site Area
3.45Ha
8.53 Acres
Greenfield Site
Agricultural land used for livestock grazing
Current Use
Notes
SUITABILITY
Fails HNP Sequential test as it is on west side of
village with very poor site access and access to the
wider road network.
The site is prominent in its local and wider context
and any development would be very prominent.
The site is highly visible and only slightly connected
to the BUAB.
ACHIEVABILITY & AVAILABILITY
Responded to call for sites.
There are two landowners who have indicated that
the land is available.
ACCEPTABILITY
Not acceptable.
Fails HNP Sequential test.
It is considered to be an incongruous and prominent
extension of the built up area into the countryside.
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SITE NAME
Site Location
Gross Site Area
Current Use
Site 22: Land North of Furners Lane
(SHLAA ref SA005)
Land to the East of the Village
Outside but adjacent the BUAB adjoining at its west
side and short return to south
Large rectangular field site
Bounded to the West with site approved for
residential development. To the south behind a
short run of houses on Furners Lane and Furners
Lane and agricultural land. Open country and
agricultural land to the East.
16.2Ha
40 Acres
Greenfield Site
Agricultural land used mainly for cereal crops.
Notes
SUITABILITY
HDC 2014 SHLAA defined as not developable.
Adjacent site with consent for development not as
yet implemented, therefore premature.
The site is prominent in its local and wider context
and any development would be very prominent.
The site is highly visible and only slightly connected
to the BUAB on its west side and part south return.
Very poor site access and access to the wider road
network. Highway safety and capacity would be
compromised.
Site is excessively large.
Detrimental environmental impact.
ACHIEVABILITY & AVAILABILITY
Responded to call for sites.
ACCEPTABILITY
Not acceptable.
It is considered to be an incongruous and prominent
extension of the built up area into the countryside.
Unacceptable pressure on road network.
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SITE NAME
Site 23: Furners Farm
Site Location
Site not adjacent the BUAB, 800m east of Henfield
High St.
Proposes a small group of dwellings (4/5) in isolated
position in countryside.
Gross Site Area
0.38 Ha
0.94 Acres
Orchard
Current Use
Notes
SUITABILITY
Not within HNP remit to promote homes in
countryside – not sustainable
ACHIEVABILITY & AVAILABILITY
Responded to call for sites.
ACCEPTABILITY
Not acceptable.
Unacceptable precedent unless determined by HDC
on individual merit due to isolated location.
SITE NAME
Site Location
Site 30: Southgrounds
Site 32: Squirrel Farm
Site 34: Stonepit Nursery
Site 35: The Piggery
Various sites not adjacent the BUAB.
Each proposes a single dwelling in isolated position
in countryside.
Gross Site Area
Various
Current Use
Various
Notes
SUITABILITY
Not within HNP remit to promote individual homes
Not sustainable unless linked to established local
business
ACHIEVABILITY & AVAILABILITY
Responded to call for sites.
ACCEPTABILITY
Should be determined by HDC where directly related
to established local business use on individual merit.
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SITE NAME
Site Location
Gross Site Area
Current Use
Site 31: Land adjacent Shoreham Road Small
Dole
Adjacent BUAB for Small Dole east boundary to
A2037, New Hall Lane to North and open fields to
West and South
Notes
5.6Ha
13.8 Acres
Agricultural
SUITABILITY
Subject of historic planning refusals.
Adjacent Category 2 settlement. Smaller Village
under the emerging Horsham District Planning
Framework, limited to small development only.
Not sustainable.
Inappropriate scale
ACHIEVABILITY & AVAILABILITY
Responded to call for sites.
ACCEPTABILITY
Not acceptable.
Unacceptable scale of development for Category 2
settlement. Smaller Village under the emerging
Horsham District Planning Framework.
SITE NAME
Site 33: BT Exchange, Coopers Way Henfield
Site Location
Village centre site, east of High Street.
Gross Site Area
0.133 Ha
0.33 Acres
Telephone Exchange
Current Use
Notes
SUITABILITY
Adjacent village centre
Brownfield site preferred for redevelopment
ACHIEVABILITY & AVAILABILITY
No response from enquiry to owner.
Considered unavailable
ACCEPTABILITY
Acceptable.
Unavailable.
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