Two Infill Dwellings Approved by Horsham in Rudgewick
Planning permission from Horsham District Council for two new dwellings on a garden infill plot in Rudgewick, overcoming a significant local objection campaign, Great Crested Newt habitat, conservation area adjacency and listed building setting concerns.
PLANNING APPROVALSHORSHAMWEST SUSSEX
Andrew Ransome
7/2/20262 min read
In 2019, Horsham District Council approved planning permission for two new dwellings on a garden infill plot in Rudgewick, near Horsham, despite a significant volume of objections from local residents.
The site lay within the settlement boundary but opposite listed buildings and adjacent to a conservation area, and contained protected trees and potential Great Crested Newt habitat — all addressed through careful design, negotiation and ecological mitigation.
Planning Permission for Infill Dwellings in Horsham
Planning permission was obtained from Horsham District Council for two new dwellings on a large garden plot in the centre of Rudgewick, near Horsham, West Sussex.
The application site comprised an existing large detached dwelling set within spacious grounds in a central village location.
Whilst the site was within the defined settlement boundary — where the principle of residential development was acceptable — the application was complicated by a number of site-specific constraints that required careful management throughout the process.
The site lies opposite a number of listed buildings and is adjacent, though not within, a conservation area boundary. Heritage was consequently a central consideration in the design process. The elevational treatment of the proposed dwellings was developed to draw upon the characteristics of the historic context, using materials and architectural references that complement rather than compete with the listed buildings across the road.
Horsham District Council was engaged throughout the design evolution to ensure the heritage response was satisfactory.
The site also contained a number of mature trees and shrubs — important features that shaped the layout from the outset.
The proposed development was carefully nestled into the existing landscape, ensuring that key trees and hedges were retained and integrated into the scheme rather than lost to development pressure.
Great Crested Newts had been recorded in the surrounding area and the site was identified as having potential to support habitat. The layout was designed to avoid ecologically sensitive areas and to deliver a net gain in biodiversity through land set aside specifically for ecological habitat.
Despite a significant number of objections from local residents opposed to any development in their village, the scheme was negotiated through to approval by Horsham District Council.
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Andrew Ransome MRTPI - Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
About me
Andrew Ransome is a Planning Director and a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), with more than two decades of experience in town planning.
He specialises in delivering strategic planning solutions for complex developments across both rural and urban environments, helping clients navigate planning challenges and unlock development opportunities. Connect with Andrew on Linkedin.
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