Horsham FC ready to showcase ground plans

The club have stressed the four consultations, which will finish on February 26, will be very much an informal chance to showcase their draft plans prior to a full planning application being submitted in late March, early April.

It will also be a chance for interested parties to raise any questions and give feedback which could shape the final submitted plans.

Local, district and parish councillors will be invited to attend the evenings, along with local residents to the Hop Oast site where the club plan to build their new ground, and the Holbrook Club where some new housing will be built as an enabling part of the whole development.

This will be the first opportunity for interested parties to have a detailed look into Horsham FC’s ground plans and discuss any concerns with club officials, who stress they are keen to involve the local public as much as possible.

Horsham chief executive John Lines said: “We very much want to involve local folk in what we are doing and very much hope people don’t make up their minds until they’ve come along and taken part in the discussions.”

The planning application process usually takes between 13 and 16 weeks, meaning theoretically Horsham FC could be ready to break ground by August of this year, as soon as builders Croudace Homes are ready to start work.

Full story in this week’s West Sussex County Times