Land west of Imberhorne Lane, East Grinstead

Our proposals for the land west of Imberhorne Lane include the creation of a new 38.5-hectare ‘Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace’ (SANG) – a new country park, open to the public.

The park will be created in the western part of the site and has been designed to host a wide range of flora and fauna, with specific areas for bird nesting, wildlife ponds, wildflower meadows and other habitat creation. Access will be provided from the Gullege track and Worth Way, with the east-west Public Right of Way across the land retained to provide an additional access from Hophurst Hill.

The park will be open to the public, with approximately three kilometres of meandering walking routes and cycle paths suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. A small car parking area will be provided for the park within the development, just to the east of the Gullege track.

The following image is our plan for the new country park:

We are seeking ‘detailed’ planning permission for the park as part of our planning application, so that work can start on the park as soon as possible, ahead of the proposed homes. It will be a condition of the planning consent that the park must be ready for the public to use by the time the first new home is occupied.

Alongside the incidental open space that will be provided throughout the development, the new country park will help us to deliver biodiversity net gain significantly in excess of the minimum 10% required.