Planning

Search for a site

Horsham District Council and Crawley Borough Council have been through a lengthy and thorough search for a site for a new neighbourhood West of Crawley. Crest Nicholson's site West of Bewbush was selected as the most suitable location.

The Joint Area Action Plan

Following an examination in public by an independent Inspector in early 2009, West of Bewbush is being developed in accordance with the West of Bewbush Joint Area Action Plan, (JAAP) adopted in July 2009 by Horsham District Council and Crawley Borough Council.

The Vision for West of Bewbush in the approved JAAP is to create a sustainable new neighbourhood in which residents can become involved in their community and share the benefits of a high quality of life.

External links

Horsham DC website
Adopted JAAP portal
Crawley BC website

The site for development is approximately 132 hectares. New development provides around 2,500 homes, including affordable housing to meet local needs. A new neighbourhood centre is the visual and social focus for the community and provides a mix of uses. Good public transport services include an extension to the existing Fastway into the heart of the neighbourhood and possibly a new station.

Location plan and JAAP masterplan

West of Bewbush is land adjacent to the western edge of Crawley, forming an area north of the A264 adjacent to Bewbush, west of the Holmbush Farm A264 access, and north to Kilnwood Lane. The area is either side of the Arun Valley railway and includes Pondtail Shaw, Capon Grove, Hopper's Brook, Bewbush Brook, Holmbush inert landfill site, Kilnwood and an archaeological parkscape.

The JAAP Conceptual Masterplan provides guidance for the landscape and urban design work on the form and layout of the neighbourhood.

JAAP summary/ key components

The JAAP sets out the principles and a detailed framework for the development.

The new neighbourhood provides:

2,500 dwellings of a variety of sizes, with a target of up to 40% affordable housing for low income families, the elderly and people on the councils' housing registers
A neighbourhood centre providing retail, healthcare services, a community centre and library
A network of formal and informal open space linking the site with the provision of cycle ways, footpaths and a high quality bus service linking the neighbourhood to the town centre
Education facilities including a new primary school
Employment space for small and start-up businesses
Land allocated for a new railway station, pending a firm decision by Network Rail to provide the service