New Christ’s Hospital School £25m sports centre plans approved

Horsham District Council’s planning committee have approved a major application to build the new facilities, which will include a new all-weather running track, sports centre extension, car park and floodlit 3G sports pitch and, uniquely, an Exploratorium.

The application was refused several times over a two year period primarily on landscape grounds. In addition, there was also considerable local objection. The School submitted a planning appeal following refusal of the scheme, as well as an application for costs, which was fixed to be heard at an Inquiry in November 2021. The Inquiry itself was scheduled to last several days with 7 expert witnesses being called to give evidence across a range of topics, including: heritage, landscape, lighting, noise and highways.

Since the submission of the appeal, and in the light of additional landscape evidence, the Council was required to reconsider its original refusal to the scheme and subsequently resolved to grant consent. This is a major success for the School and the appeal will now be withdrawn.

Media links to the case can be found here

Anne Williams and Angelica Rokad represented the School.