Hornets ditch Holbrook appeal and head for Hop Oast
Horsham Football Club have ditched plans to build a new ground at The Holbrook Club and look set to build instead in the Hop Oast area.
The Hornets’ secretary revealed that the club has withdrawn its planning appeal at the Holbrook site, in North Heath Lane, and will work with the council to draw up plans for a new stadium at the site between Horsham and Southwater.
It follows the announcement made public by Horsham District Council last week concerning the imminent removal of the Strategic Gap between Horsham and Southwater and the ongoing efforts by them to assist the relocation of Horsham FC.
The Hornets currently play their Ryman Premier League home matches in Worthing. Despite a loyal fanbase, crowd numbers have dwindled since the club left the Queens Street ground the to the temporary out-of-town venue.
Horsham Football Club secretary John Lines said: "Members of the Board have met regularly with senior council officials over several months to identify an alternative location for the club in the Hop Oast area and discuss design drawings drawn up by the club for a modern environmentally sustainable football ground and associated facilities.
“Whilst at this stage no specific site has been confirmed, the club was nevertheless keen to take whatever steps it could to address the present uncertainty for residents in Holbrook and avoid both Horsham District Council and the Football Club itself devoting substantial resources to a planning appeal that might not ultimately be necessary.
Mr Lines added: “As a consequence, a deferment of the appeal was sought to allow further investigation without either side being distracted from properly exploring the process.
“Disappointingly, the Planning Inspectorate have refused to allow this. Progress in talks have however been such that we have decided in good faith and in harmony with the well documented desire of Horsham District Council and its Councillors to see us back in Horsham, albeit away from the Holbrook site, to withdraw our Planning Appeal and together with HDC, focus on achieving these aims in the Hop Oast area.
“Whilst there are some councillors who may object to the Governments decision to remove the strategic gap, the continuation of protection from massive housing development in that area with a recreational buffer is the ideal solution”.
He added “that the Club intended to build a very modest football ground at any alternative Hop Oast location which would be totally in keeping with the aims and ambitions outlined for the design at Holbrook and included several environmentally sustainable characteristics.
Director, Kevin Borrett commented: “There will inevitably be those who doubt the wisdom of the club withdrawing an Appeal regarded by the club and many third parties as entirely winnable whilst yet another alternative site was evaluated.
Contrasting this with previous attempts by the club to relocate over many years, he urged supporters of the club as well as all those involved with its four youth teams covering ages from under 11’s up to 18 to show patience and added the club now saw a real opportunity for the search for a new permanent home to be brought to a timely final conclusion, with support from HDC.
The urgent need, he said, was for a suitable long term site to now be identified quickly and agreements reached for the club to acquire it.
With regards to the Holbrook Club he confirmed that “recently an extension of their current lease had been agreed and that HFC remained content to be its landlord at the present time”.
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