Parish councils spurred on to create Neighbourhood Plans
Written by Jessica Mayall
19 November 2012
CPRE Sussex joined forces with CPRE national office and the National Association of Local Councils NALC to provide a planning workshop for Sussex Parish councillors to assist them in making Neighbourhood Plans. The event at Pulborough on 1st November was attended by parish councillors from Birdham, Henfield, Herstmonceux, Hunston, Patching, Petworth, Pulborough, Southbourne, Westhampnett and Woolbeding with Redford.
"Local decisions are being taken away": CPRE Sussex on BBC
Written by William Shaw
15 November 2012
"We're concerned that if decisions are taken away from the local level then developers’ interests come first," said CPRE Sussex Director Georgia Wrighton on the BBC's Sunday Politics South East, commenting on the Government's Growth and Infrastructure Bill which back tracks on commitments to localism.
Public Consultation on Horsham District Council’s (HDC’s)Horsham District Planning Framework – ‘Preferred Strategy’, has been postponed until the New Year.
Important - Mid Sussex District Plan on Hold
Mid Sussex DC has decided not to submit its own district plan for public examination until the coalition government has rescinded the South East Plan.
This is important because the Plan imposed a very high housing allocation that would have resulted in overwhelming building levels. We have received mixed signals on the timing of the repeal, but it may be before the end of the year. In the meantime, neighbourhood groups are campaigning against the planned urban extension to Burgess Hill, development sites in Haywards Heath and proposals to build to the south west of East Grinstead.
Bexhill - Hastings link protest: major turnout
Written by William Shaw
17 October 2012
CPRE members were amongst a large crowd vociferously protesting at a Sussex County Council meeting in Lewes yesterday about the planned £93.8m link road between Bexhill and Hastings.
Wealden District Core Strategy
The Examination in Public of the WDC core strategy has been completed, and we were generally pleased with the WDC approach. The Inspector has presented his interim findings which unfortunately bring forward the end date from 2030 to 2027, thus increasing the annual build rate, but we are pleased to see that he has (almost) ruled out building on AONB sites at Heathfield, a position that we adopted. It was interesting watching the antics of the developers and their expensive representatives who repeatedly, and unsuccessfully, pushed for the inclusion of their sites in the strategy, including (as expected) yet another push for Honey Farm, we assume that we now have a breathing space till 2027 before they start again.
The routine planning applications continue, with few sites where we feel any need to comment, if local members think that any proposal needs our comments please contact me.
Since 1 April all planning in the southern part of Wealden South is the responsibility of SDNPA and we hope that their website will function fully in the near future.
