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.