WSCC Highways
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Member Notification of S278/38 highways agreement at Millfields Farm, Rusper 15th June 2026
Good morning,
In accordance with our approved protocol this email notifies you that we have received an application for a highway agreement in your division.
Work is now commencing on the technical review of the developers detailed design. Please contact me if you would like to discuss the scheme in more detail, view further engineering drawings or raise any issues that require consideration in our technical review. The initial comments on the scheme will be issued to the developer in the next couple of weeks.
Agreement Type:
Section 278/38 Highways Agreement
Location:
Millfields Farm, Rusper
Name of Developer:
Stonebond Properties Limited
Planning Reference:
DC/24/0699
Date of planning consent:
07/05/2025
Description of Planning consent:
Demolition of existing structures and erection of 43no. dwellings (Use Class C3), creation of a new access and provision of public open space, alongside associated landscaping and other works.
Description of Highway Works:
New permanent site access on East Street – priority bellmouth junction.
Pedestrian crossing improvements on East Street/High Street/Horsham Rd.
Extension of 30mph limit eastwards in East Street to encompass site access – to include new gateway feature.
Construction of raised table on Horsham Road.
Safety Audit Undertaken:
Stage 1 Road Safety Audit - YES
Stage 2 Road Safety Audit - TBC
Anticipated Construction Date:
(provided by developer)
TBC
Additional Comments:
Through the planning process the following issues are agreed and cannot be altered at the detailed design (highway agreement) stage:
- The type of junction layout and extent of the highway works.
- The junction visibility and forward visibility.
- The horizontal and vertical alignment of the highway.
Through the highway agreement process we will check the following:
That the detailed design conforms to the planning consent and approved planning layout.
That all safety considerations of the highway works have been addressed.
The signing and road markings accord with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.
The highway drainage has been designed to appropriate standards and has a suitable outfall and is segregated from private surface water drainage.
The design of the street lighting including the specification of the lanterns and columns is appropriate for the class of road and location.
The specification of the proposed highway materials are acceptable and fit for purpose - including carriageway construction, footway construction, hard landscaping, kerbing, edgings, tactile paving, drainage and street furniture.
That the designer has taken account of the location of existing statutory undertakers equipment e.g. electric cables and provided appropriate diversion or protection.
That any amendments to existing Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) or new TROs required in conjunction with the highway scheme are processed.
That any adoptable structures or structures adjacent to the public highway have been designed to the appropriate standards and where applicable have an Approval in Principle (AIP).
Note – Where signalised junctions or signal controlled crossings are proposed our Traffic Signals Team will advise on the detailed design.
Kind regards,
Chris Pratt
Principal Engineer – Highway Agreements
Planned Delivery
West Sussex County Council
Email response to Chris Pratt - West Sussex County Council Highways, Principal Engineer – Highway Agreements, Planned Delivery 3rd July 2026
Hi Chris,
Following consideration of the proposed Section 278/38 Agreement, Rusper Parish Council resolved that it has no objection to the proposal in principle.
However, the Council would ask that West Sussex County Council gives further consideration to the cumulative impact of the proposed highway works and the associated traffic pinch point, particularly in conjunction with the future Devine Homes development (planning reference DC/25/0523). The Council expressed concern that East Street is the principal route into and out of Rusper village and that the combination of these highway features could give rise to congestion and potential highway safety issues.
The Council also reviewed the proposed priority arrangement at the pinch point in conjunction with this S278 Millfield agreement. The Council were clear that the future proposed pinch point must operate eastbound, slowing traffic as it exits the village. An arrangement requiring westbound traffic to give way would, in the Council’s view, be counterproductive: it would hold vehicles within the village, increase congestion on East Street, and exacerbate existing pressure on this section of highway. For these reasons, the Council considers a easttbound pinch point to be unacceptable.
The Council also notes the Highway Authority's response to planning application DC/24/1300 – Longfield House, East Street, Rusper, which concludes that the proposal would not have an unacceptable impact on highway safety and would not result in severe cumulative impacts on the highway network.
The Council also notes the approved planning permission DC/21/2172 – Erection of six 3-bedroom dwellings (including one retirement property), with associated garages, creation of an access drive and landscaping works, which introduces a further vehicular access onto the same section of East Street.
Whilst each application may be acceptable when considered on its own merits, the Parish Council is concerned that the cumulative impact of these approved access points ,together with the current Section 278/38 works, the future Section 278 works associated with the Devine Homes development, and the Millfields site entrance, has not been fully assessed. These access points and associated highway features, including the proposed pinch points, are all located within close proximity of one another on the same section of East Street. The Council considers that their combined effect on traffic flow, congestion and highway safety should be assessed holistically rather than each proposal being considered in isolation.
The Council would also emphasise that East Street is a constrained rural road serving as the principal route into Rusper village. It is narrow in places, has limited opportunities for overtaking or passing, has poor carriageway edges and is used by a wide range of traffic, including agricultural vehicles, buses, horses, delivery vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. Given these characteristics, even relatively minor changes to highway priority arrangements and additional roadside parking have the potential to affect traffic flow and highway safety.
I would be grateful if these comments could be taken into account as the detailed design of the Section 278/38 Agreement progresses.
For ease of reference, I have attached the drawing relating to the proposed Devine Homes highway works that I have in my files and I have also copied my latest version of the Millfields Highways plan.
Please contact me if you have any questions.
Kind regards
Lisa Wilcock CiLCA
Clerk and RFO to Rusper Parish Council
Rusper Parish Council
c/o Rusper Village Stores, East Street, Rusper, RH12 4PX
Telephone 07380468256
Email: clerk@rusper-pc.gov.uk
Website: www.rusper-pc.gov.uk