Measures to promote the better use of urban land, particularly high quality high density development, while committing to continued Green Belt protection, mean CPRE gives a cautious welcome to today’s Budget.
High Weald AONB
© Hugh Threlfall/Alamy
A report out today names a mass housing development in Sussex as the largest in the country to be approved in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
CPRE Sussex has been actively involved at all stages of the development of a new minerals plan for West Sussex being that is in the course of preparation as a joint exercise between West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA). Our participation has been important because of the extent to which mineral reserves within the county underlie specially designated areas of our countryside, including the South Downs National Park and the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The new strategic plan will run from 2018 - 2033, and will identify sites that are being used or that need protecting from alternative development fora range of hard minerals. It will also identify the planning criteria that will determine the authorities' approach to applications to explore for and exploit subterranean oil and gas deposits within the Plan area.
CPRE Sussex has responded to the Southern Water consultation (see PDF downloadable below) to with the view that Southern Water should seek to reverse declines in biodiversity, enhancing as well as protecting the Natural Environment and strengthening and adding to ecosystem services.
Proposed Mayfield Market Town would lie in this part of the Weald
© LAMBS
After some evident hesitation on the part of the Planning Inspectorate (PI), the public examination has started into the housing policies proposed by the District Council in their draft District Plan. MSDC has calculated the District’s need for new housing during the period 2014 – 2031 at 13,536 new homes, and planned to overcome PI criticism of its previously inadequate co-operation with neighbouring authorities by offering to build 864 homes towards the needs of Crawley BC which, like a number of adjacent districts, is unable to meet its own housing needs. To meet this need the draft Plan therefore envisages new houses being built at a rate of 800 p.a. throughout the Plan period – MSDC’s annual housing target.
A recent Civitas report shows how house-builders are under no regulatory obligation to meet Local Planning Authorities' (LPAs) forward 5 year-supply trajectory as determined by their 'Objectively Assessed Need' for housing.
Image: www.savebirchenfields.co.uk/
Alarm bells should ring about the latest planning appeal decision made by the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government who has allowed a proposed 40 posh home development to proceed at Birchin Fields in the fast diminishing green gap between Haywards Heath and Lindfield.
The report ‘Building more homes’ was published House of Lords Select Committee on Economic Affairs on 15 Jul 2016.
Download the report below.
Letter published by the West Sussex County Times, 12 May 2016:
