This developer proposal would involve the building of up to 10,000 new houses in the countryside between Henfield and Sayers Common in Sussex. CPRE Sussex would like to make clear its forceful opposition to this opportunistic proposal: it proposes a new town almost the size of East Grinstead of up to 25,000 people dumped in the middle of our open countryside: not a market town, but a commuter town, with few on the spot jobs available. This scheme meets no need for housing identified in the strategic plans that have been developed by Mid Sussex and Horsham District Councils. It would violate those Plans' proposed countryside protection policies, divert infrastructure and other investment from existing nearby communities, and clog up the local roads. It is also strongly objectionable on a variety of other environmental and non-sustainability grounds.
The CPRE Sussex Spring Conference ‘Futureproofing’ on 23 March 2013 saw Shoreham Ropetackle Arts Centre filled with around 90 people all fearful of the effects of government policy on the future of the countryside. The Conference heralded the start of a dangerous era for Sussex. It marked the end of a 1 year period for Councils to get Local Plans in place ‘or else’, before the government’s ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ means that applications will be approved unless the disadvantages outweigh the advantages dictated in the new government planning policy, the National Planning Policy Framework. The Conference coincided with the national CPRE report ‘Countryside Promises: Planning Realities’ which shows that 1 year on, the NPPF has allowed communities to be overruled time and time again, allowing damaging development to sprawl across precious countryside.
AGM 2013 Documents
The 2013 AGM of CPRE Sussex will be held on 10 July 2013.
Documents relevant to the AGM will be available on this page.
Details of candidates standing for election as Trustees of CPRE Sussex Countryside Trust can be downloaded below.
You're invited to our 40th AGM
At The Meridian hall,
East Grinstead
on Wednesday 10th July 2013
Meeting starts at 10:30 am
(Coffee 10:00am)
Wealden District Council and The South Downs National Park Authority have now adopted their Core Strategy Local Plan, and subject to any High Court appeal before 12 April this is now settled, which is good news as we generally supported their plan.
First, a call for help – we have the beginnings of a District Group in Wealden North but urgently need a volunteer with planning knowledge and experience to monitor weekly planning lists and advise/respond to enquiries. We would also benefit from “eyes and ears” in our towns and villages - individuals alert to inappropriate development proposals and local issues. If you can help, please e-mail Lesley at the office.
The main issue currently is to influence the District Council against inclusion of what was originally up to 1000 homes on a fragile flood plain within their 16 year strategic plan. The area in question is between Lancing and Shoreham, an area of approximately 1.5 x 1.5 miles, sandwiched between the A27 and the A259. As you are aware, The Shoreham Airport is located within this area and the business owners association are involved in the Draft Plan issue together with all the associations for the residents.
Local Plan: wrong numbers.
The Chichester District Council (CDC) has prepared a draft Local Plan open for consultation from 22 March.
We strongly object to the proposal for building 395 houses per year from 2012 to 2029. The CDC has disobeyed the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) para 159, which says: "Local planning authorities should have a clear understanding of housing needs in their area. They should: prepare a Strategic Housing Market Assessment." (SHMA). This means that the CDC should produce a new SHMA for "their area". But they have not done so. Local needs have been ignored, as also have the sustainability requirements of the NPPF paras 7 to 10 .
I would like to thank local members who have taken thetime to advise me of issues within their immediate area.
In particular I would like to thank Stanley Allen for his timely updates on intended developments in the Lancing and Shoreham areas.
I still have limited opportunities to meet and discuss with our local membership due to my constrained personalcircumstances.
I have identified a number of outlets in the local area who have taken our membership leaflets and hopefully Ican find more to increase our local membership base.
I would urge members to find outlets who are receptive to the aims and cause of CPRE. Brighton and Hove Albion FC have submitted an application to Adur District Council for extra full-size pitchesat the club's proposed £22 million Lancing training facility.
The land is designated for up to 600 homes in the Adur Plan and the objective of the football club is to ensure better use of the pitches as the original land purchasewas not enough for the club needs.
One of the pitches has been set aside for use as a community pitch by the club.
Work is continuing with the access road along Mash Barn Lane and the expectation on work on the training ground starting in April 2013.
David Start
