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THE HIGH L SENSE OF COMMUNITY AT BERKELEY’S HIGHWOOD VILLAGE
It is more than a decade since construction began at Highwood in Horsham. At the time, Highwood was one of several developments contributing to existing residents’ fears for the future. With new houses also going up on the opposite side of the A24 at Wickhurst Green site and at Kilnwood Vale near Holmbush, was Horsham changing for the better or worse? Could the market town cope with added pressures on infrastructure? Would the strategic gap to Crawley eventually disappear? The growing likelihood of land to the north of Horsham also being developed did little to quell such concerns, as housing and Local Plan stories dominated local news headlines for several years. The north Horsham site did, of course, get the green light, with the development now known as Mowbray, which includes the new Bohunt Horsham School.
In recent years, the focus of the news headlines has shifted to other sites that may be developed, most notably at Buck Barn, Adversane and Southwater. Meanwhile at Highwood, a thriving community has developed. The high-quality, Colonial-style built by Berkeley may have offered something new and exciting to prospective buyers, but it’s the development’s design and layout that has promoted a sense of wellbeing and togetherness amongst residents. During the early phase of development, it was The Square that commanded attention and generated positive publicity. Inspired by the public gardens of Victorian London, The Square is surrounded by town houses, with a beautiful sculpture of a mare and foal by Marcus Cornish as its centrepiece. Berkeley also utilised Highwood’s idyllic setting, utilising woodland, ancient trees and the popular Riverside Walk to create tranquil walkways and green spaces for
residents and nature. By closing the entrance to Hills Farm Lane to vehicles and reducing traffic, Highwood not only encouraged walking and cycling into town, but also became a quiet, safe place for families. Some 700 properties have now been completed on the development, compromising homes from one-bedroom apartments (some of which are built around stunning water-features that include fountains and even goldfish!) to five-bedroom houses. Construction on the second half of the estate in the southerly section of the land, known as Highwood Village, is underway. The latest phase is expected to be completed in the early part of 2024, with two further phases to come. The entire Highwood development of about 1,100 homes is expected to be finished by spring 2027.