Horsham’s new homes market demonstrates wide-ranging commuter appeal 

With a journey time to London of an hour – the maximum many people want to face on their daily travel to work – Horsham is an ideal commuter town, combining as it does a wealth of amenities, excellent schooling and proximity to countryside and coast.

It is not just commuters to the capital who will find the town an appealing place to live, as it is under half an hour to Gatwick Airport, a major employment centre with over 30,000 jobs directly or indirectly linked to it. Major town along the coast are also commutable in under an hour by road.

“Unlike many towns that have had their infrastructure strained by the development of new homes, Horsham was always one step ahead thanks to the A24 and A264 ring roads which allows traffic to move smoothly without congesting the narrower inner-town roads,” says Horsham-based Ed Rawson, senior sales manager for King & Chasemore Country Homes.

Horsham District Council has identified the need for over 11,000 new homes over a 20-year period. Currently, the village of Broadbridge Heath, just to the west of Horsham over the A24, is the major development site, with numerous housebuilders constructing a wide range of new homes. Some 2,500 new homes are also earmarked for land north of Horsham in coming years.

Rawson adds: “On the Horsham side of the A24 there is a large new development by Berkeley Homes of 200 homes (see below), with plans for a total of 1,044. Despite all these large new homes sites, there are still a number of smaller more intimate developments, such as Harrington Mews by Crest Nicholson, a traditionally styled enclave of sixteen four- and five-bedroom homes which are now almost 50% occupied.”

The rail journey time to central London is around an hour, with routes to London Bridge and Victoria. A season ticket costs £373 per month or £3,880 per year. There are also regular services to Gatwick, and employees commuting there have a journey time of just 25 minutes and a season ticket cost of £121 per month or £1,256 annually.

The south coast is also within easy reach by rail, with services covering numerous towns and resorts across Sussex and Hampshire, from Brighton to Portsmouth. These destinations are easy to reach by road too – Worthing in 35 minutes away, Brighton 45 minutes, Chichester 53 minutes and Portsmouth just over the hour.

New homes for sale in Horsham now or coming soon:

Wickhurst Green (David Wilson Homes) – Forming part of the expansion of Broadbridge Heath, this development offers a mix of three- and four-bedroom homes that are perfect for first-time buyers and growing families. Prices start at £345,000, with Help to Buy and part exchange available to make moving in easier. Find out more on WhatHouse? ; 01702 416709
Highwood (Berkeley Homes) – The last homes on two phases of properties are still available here, with three-, four- and five-bedroom options available from £435,000. This large development, on the western outskirts of Horsham, offers very convenient access to the A24 and has countryside, sports pitches and playing fields nearby. Find out more on WhatHouse? ; 01403 593830
Clarence Court (McCarthy & Stone) – The last few of 45 one- and two-bedroom apartments for retirees are still available, with prices starting at £365,950 for a two-bedroom home. The development is located in the south of Horsham, on Brighton Road, within easy reach of the town centre. Find out more at www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk ; 0800 201 4811
Horsham Gates (Cubitt & West) – Just seven plots remain for sale at this development, with prices starting at £245,000 for a one-bedroom flat in this scheme of one- and two-bedroom new homes, which have contemporary design and undercroft parking. Help to Buy is available. Find out more at www.cubittandwest.co.uk ; 01403 269268	​
St Irvyne’s (Countryside) – This development in Wickhurst Green recently won a WhatHouse? Award for its landscaping, which combines the exterior design of the homes, street scenes and environmental elements. From £699,995, the New England-style homes of the Colonial Collection are particularly striking, with a range of sizes and layouts available. Find out more at www.st-irvynes.co.uk ; 01403 242142

Take a look at even more new homes in West Sussex.

Rail fares correct, per www.nationalrail.co.uk (30 November 2015)