CHAPTER 3: SETTING THE SCENE
3.1 The allocated land west of Horsham is a mix of arable and pasture land. The Horsham District Landscape Character Assessment categorises the typography of the development area into two distinct character areas; land south of Broadbridge Heath (Warnham and Faygate Vale), which is characterised by medium to large scale fields of arable farmland and sparsely distributed woodland, and the other east of the A24 (Upper Arun Valley), which is characterised in the Horsham District Landscape Character Assessment as an area of small drained irregularly shaped pastures with tightly meandering and steeply banked river and steam courses. The total development area amounts to approximately 99 hectares (ha) with a distribution of around 49ha on land south of Broadbridge Heath and 50ha on the land east of the A24.
3.2 The land immediately south of Broadbridge Heath is predominantly flat and gently undulating with the notable exception of High Wood Hill. This Horsham stone outcrop rises 25m above the adjoining land close to the A24 and is an important local landscape feature. Its species rich designated ancient woodland is also a Site of Nature Conservation Interest. The remainder of the land south of Broadbridge Heath is predominantly arable farmland that is largely divided by mature hedgerows and trees. Just to the south of the development area lies Broadbridge Farm, a rural and tranquil character area which includes a small number of properties, two of which are recently converted Grade II Listed Buildings, which were formally part of the farm. It is important that the character of this area is taken into account in the design of any development nearby. A public bridleway know as Mill Lanegoes through the site, from the existing village, though the development area to the countryside beyond. This bridleway is bounded by mature trees and hedgerows and forms a wildlife corridor through the site to the River Arun. It is important that this link is retained both for public access and to retain and enhance the biodiversity of the area. The River Arun and its floodplain is the other dominant landscape feature of the area. It provides an attractive setting for the development West of Horsham but also a firm southern boundary to the development area south of Broadbridge Heath.
3.3 Land to the east of the A24, within Denne Neighbourhood, lies adjacent to Horsham and south of Tanbridge House Secondary School. The railway line forms the southern boundary of the site and to the west it is bounded by the A24. The most dominant landscape feature of this land is the River Arun, its tributary Boldings Brook, and their associated floodplains. Bolding Brook flows along the eastern boundary of the site and joins the River Arun, which divides this land east of the A24 into two distinct areas. The rivers, for the most part, have steep banks, which are densely lined with mature trees. These features provide an attractive setting for development but are also important areas to retain and enhance the biodiversity of the area. No built development will be allowed in the floodplain although it may be used for the provision of playing pitches or informal open space. Land to the north of the River Arun is characterised by large fields with few hedgerows, land south of the River is sub-divided into much smaller fields by a network of mature hedgerows, which the Council will seek to retain as important wildlife corridors wherever possible. There are views towards Denne Hill to the south east and towards High Wood Hill to the west.