Our Mission

What is Save Rural Southwater?

- We oppose the rampant over-development of our village by Berkeley Homes -

Save Rural Southwater (SRS) is an action group of residents who have come together to protect the Southwater countryside. SRS works to stop the rampant over-development by Berkeley Homes and landowners which is turning our village into a town, merging Southwater with Christ’s Hospital, Tower Hill, and Horsham, against the wishes of local residents. Berkeley Homes already has permission to double the size of the Broadacres estate, with another 300 houses still to be built. That, plus the maximum of a further 450 more dwellings envisaged within the Southwater Neighbourhood Plan, means there are 750 more to come in Southwater over the next 10-15 years. That is why we say: Enough is Enough!

We champion the democratic rights of all Southwater residents to have a real say in the development of the village and surrounding area and to oppose developer-led urban sprawl. The Localism Act of 2011 gives people the right to influence planning in their area. The Southwater Neighbourhood Plan is the democratically decided plan for the future. It must be honoured by Horsham District Council in their planning decisions up to 2039.

We welcome anyone who wants to support our local effort. You can join our mailing list below and get in touch at info@saveruralsouthwater.org.

What is
Save Rural Southwater?

Save Rural Southwater (SRS) is an action group of residents who have come together to protect the Southwater countryside. SRS works to stop the rampant over-development by Berkeley Homes and landowners which is turning our village into a town. Berkeley Homes already has permission to double the size of the Broadacres estate, with another 300 houses still to be built. That is why we say: Enough is Enough!

We welcome anyone who wants to support our local effort. You can join our mailing list below and get in touch at info@saveruralsouthwater.org.

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Berkeley Group planning proposal for 1500 homes

Local people should decide the community development priorities, not profit-led developers and Horsham District Council.

Profiteering should not determine the shape of our village. It has been the long held ambition of Berkeley Homes, and two land-owners, Christ’s Hospital School and the Aubrey-Fletcher family trust, to concrete over more of the farmland adjoining the village. Berkeley Homes holds development options on this farmland. All three parties stand to make hundreds of millions of pounds in profit, and would destroy Southwater in the process.

We all need houses and important decisions have to be made about what is built, and where.

We support the well-planned development and growth of Southwater to meet actual local need.

Site map for Horsham District Council agreed Southwater Neighbourhood plan for 450 homes

We support the Southwater Neighbourhood plan, created by Southwater Parish Council, voted for by Southwater residents and formally approved by Horsham District Council in 2021.

The Southwater Neighbourhood Plan allocated an area (approx. 22 ha) west of Southwater within the Built Up Area Boundary for the provision of a further 422 - 450 new residential homes, consisting of a minimum of 350 homes and, in addition, at least 72 units classed as ‘C2’. (These are homes where the residents are in receipt of care and could take a variety of forms such as a single ‘Care Home’ which can accommodate 72 people or 72 individual ‘Extra Care’ dwellings).

Who is involved?

Cows grazing, Southwater, West Sussex
Photography by John Parsons

Land owners

The land currently marked for development is owned by Christ’s Hospital School and the Aubrey Fletcher Trust. Berkeley Homes has currently purchased the ‘Option’ to develop this land.

Christ's Hospital School was established in 1552 and moved from London to Sussex in 1902. It has charitable status and educates 900 students from diverse backgrounds each year. Over the centuries, Christ’s Hospital Foundation has built up an extremely valuable endowment through its many benefactors. In recent years it has been buying up hundreds of acres of additional farmland, especially in the Coolham area. A considerable area of land from their original Sussex land holding has been turned into housing development over recent years.

Aubrey Fletcher Trust is the private trust of the family Baronetcy, based in Buckinghamshire, and manages thousands of acres of land and the income from its vast estates. Sir Henry Egerton Aubrey-Fletcher, 8th Baronet, KCVO KStJ, is the former Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire.

Horsham District Council

It is ultimately HDC who decide to approve or deny planning application for a development in the Southwater Area.

The district council is the principal planning authority for land use in the District and determines planning applications in its area. It has to comply with central Government guidance and planning frameworks.

Property developers

Berkeley Group is a large property development organisation. They are a listed organisation on the FTSE 250 and have built 19,000 homes in just the last 5 years, generating hundreds of millions for shareholders.

Berkeley Group have currently purchased the ‘Option’ to develop the land for sale by Christ’s Hospital and The Aubrey Fletcher Family Trust. A property option is a legal agreement between the potential buyer and the seller who grants the option. In a property options agreement, the seller grants to the buyer the exclusive and irrevocable right to purchase a property they own for a specified amount during a specified time period and under specific terms, conditions and obligations. This allows the potential buyer to move forward with planning permissions and other matters. It confirms for the buyer, that they can, and are, able to do what they want with the land when they therefore make the full purchase, following the option purchase.

Southwater Parish Council

The Parish Council is a Statutory Body, with members elected every four years and is funded through the local precept (council tax). The Parish Council currently operates its offices and chamber in Beeson House.

There are three tiers of local government, each with different responsibilities. Southwater Parish Council is considered the first and local tier. You can view the powers and duties of the Southwater Parish Council here >. It Is Southwater Parish Council who have created the Southwater Neighbourhood Plan. Read more about the Southwater Neighbourhood Plan here >

Natural England

Natural England is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. It is the government’s adviser for the natural environment in England and is required to protect and restore our natural world.

Environment Agency

The Environment Agency work to create better places for people and wildlife, and support sustainable development. EA is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.

CPRE

Campaign to Protect Rural England believe in countryside and green spaces that are accessible to all, rich in nature and playing a crucial role in responding to the climate emergency. They are advocating nationwide for the kind of countryside we all want: one with sustainable, healthy communities and available to more people than ever. CPRE stand for a countryside that enriches all of our lives, regenerating our wellbeing, and that we in turn regenerate, protect and celebrate.

Southern Water

Southern Water are required to provide water to enhance health and wellbeing, protect and improve the environment and sustain the economy. They provide water to 2.5 million customers and wastewater services to more than 4.7 million customers across Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.