The examination into the Lib Dems' Local Plan at Horsham District Council has now re-opened, with fresh hearings scheduled for later this year. This comes after the Planning Inspector’s outright rejection of the previous version in April 2025, which highlighted multiple serious failings in the Lib Dem-led administration’s approach.
As a result of the Lib Dems' mishandling and ongoing uncertainty, residents now face the threat of up to 22,000 homes being imposed across the district. In the absence of an up-to-date Local Plan, communities have been exposed to a wave of speculative planning applications. Responsibility lies squarely with Lib Dem MP John Milne, who was the architect of the Local Plan during his time as Deputy Leader of Horsham District Council and Cabinet Member for Planning. Local Conservatives are leading the fightback — standing up for our villages, demanding a robust and deliverable Local Plan,
and opposing unsustainable development in the countryside.
