Henfield Parish Council statement on proposed Taylor Wimpey development

Henfield residents may be aware that Taylor Wimpey has begun a consultation on its plan to apply for permission to build approximately 500 homes on land east of the Wantley Estate. This land was not allocated for development in the Neighbourhood Plan that was made and positively voted upon by residents in 2021. As such, it is a speculative development that Taylor Wimpey describes as a ‘new neighbourhood’ in their marketing literature.

Henfield Parish Council believes such a large-scale development is inappropriate and unwanted. Permission has already been granted for 235 homes north of Deer Park and 29 homes off Furners Lane and when these are built in the next year or two, there will be some impact upon infrastructure and services in Henfield. These two developments will affect schools, the medical centre, electricity, water and sewage demand as well as car parking and traffic – but these developments have been an integral part of the Neighbourhood Plan, allowing their impact to be planned for. The 500 new houses that Taylor Wimpey wish to build would, the Parish Council believes, have a damaging, negative and unplanned impact upon the village and put infrastructure and services under severe strain.

Whilst there would be a proportion of ‘affordable’ housing, there are no plans to include much-needed social housing and genuinely affordable starter homes. In addition, one of the planned access routes through the top end of the Wantley Estate would be severely problematic.

Henfield Parish Council objects to the planned development. Nonetheless, councillors encourage you to participate in the current consultation and express your own views.