The Westfield Down Project (WDP) has been an important prospect for the community for several years. The land owners, Westfield Parish Council, and the local Planning Authority have been working on the plan to provide substantial community recreation facilities and housing on land between the GP's surgery and the Cricket Ground.
Informal negotiations began in 2003. Later a formal proposal was submitted to the Planning Authority and following a public consultation and Government inspection, this proposal achieved policy status in the Local District Plan in 2006. (Policy VL11). The proposal allocates one hectare of land nearest the surgery for housing, and the remaining 2.5 hectares for general community recreation use including football pitches.
In 2007 a "Change of use" planning application was granted to the Parish Council for the football and recreation elements of the scheme (application no. RR/2007/545/P). The Parish Council has applied twice to renew this permission for another three years. Renewals were granted in July 2010 and again in 2013 (application nos. RR/2010/1111/P and RR/2013/1286/P).
In June 2014 an outline planning application by the land owners, for the housing element was approved, subject to a Section 106 agreement which establishes the contribution required from the planning gain to be made towards to the community recreation and football part of the scheme (RR/2009/322/P).
Substantial volunteer time has been expended in taking the scheme forward and various local groups that will benefit have been consulted and contributed to the process. These include Westfield Football Club, Westfield Cricket Club, Westfield Community Association, Westfield Scout Group and the Westfield Local Action Plan Group. Mr Roger Carrier is the Parish Council representative for the project and he continues to steer the process, coordinating the work of volunteers, and negotiating with all relevant parties to take the plan forward.