Former council chief: Character of town will be ‘changed forever’

By The Newsroom
Published 18th Nov 2014, 06:50 BST
Horsham District Council. Martin Pearson, former Council Chief Executive. Horsham. Picture : Liz Pearce. LP111114HDC05 SUS-141111-100825008Horsham District Council. Martin Pearson, former Council Chief Executive. Horsham. Picture : Liz Pearce. LP111114HDC05 SUS-141111-100825008
Horsham District Council. Martin Pearson, former Council Chief Executive. Horsham. Picture : Liz Pearce. LP111114HDC05 SUS-141111-100825008
The character of Horsham will be ‘changed forever’ if major housebuilding north of the A264 is allowed - according to a former council boss.

Martin Pearson, who as Horsham District Council chief executive from 1983 to 2005 masterminded major development of the town, returned on Tuesday to pick apart plans for 2,500 homes and a new business park.

He was one of North Horsham Parish Council’s representatives on the fourth day of examination hearings where a planning inspector is scrutinising HDC’s housing plan.

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Debate centred around why large scale development at Billingshurst and Southwater had been reduced at the same time as the final North Horsham scheme came to light in 2013.

Mr Pearson, who still lives in the town, said: “This was clearly a political decision to switch to North Horsham.

“You can see the facts were adjusted to support the decision.”

He continued: “The fact here is there’s no need to breach the A264 because we have an opportunity in Southwater to meet the housing need without breaching any bypass.”