At the time of the committee hearing, Lewes DC did not have an up-to-date Local Plan. However we're pleased to say CPRE's Protect Sussex Group played a key part in providing research to the councillors, including making them aware of:

1. The two recent called-in planning appeals for Hurstpierpoint, Mid-Sussex, demonstrating that appeal decisions were based on the status of the neighbourhood plan at the time the appeal was heard, rather than when an application was first submitted.

2. The article in the 12 Sep 2014 Planning magazine 'Parish Plan challenges are withdrawn', noting that in July Nick Boles had said that for the following year appeals affecting emerging neighbourhood plans that had reached the stage that the Ringmer one has would be called in for decision by the Secretary of State.

With this information, the councillors, felt able to refuse the application on the basis of prematurity, due to it being in conflict with an emerging Neighbourhood Plan (submitted formally by the patrish council on Monday).