Horsham District Council has agreed to put its draft Local Plan for 2023-2040 out to a six-week public consultation. The decision followed a lengthy meeting on Monday evening (December 11) which saw councillors and members of the public speaking for and against the contents of the new Plan. The consultation – the Regulation 19 stage of the Plan’s progress – will run from January 19 to March 1 2024. Then the Plan and all the responses will be sent to the Planning Inspectorate in June, with hearings expected to be held in October or November. The council hopes to adopt the new Local Plan in 2025. Here is John Milne, cabinet member for planning & infrastructure