CPRE Sussex defends countryside between Ansty and Cuckfield

Charity joins local campaigners in calling for planning inspector to refuse controversial ‘Cuckstye’ appeal.

CPRE Sussex has defended the countryside between Ansty and Cuckfield at the opening of a planning appeal hearing.

Development company Fairfax is appealing Mid Sussex District Council’s decision to refuse its bid for 1,450 homes at Ansty Farm.

Michael Brown, CPRE Sussex member and long-term planning volunteer, spoke at the opening of the hearing at the request of both Ansty and Cuckfield parish councils.

Making his opening statement, Mr Brown said: “I may not be a planning professional; but I am someone who, like all of us at CPRE, cares deeply about finding the right balance between a culture of ‘build, baby, build’ and ‘not in my back yard’.  My own simple conclusion to achieve the sustainability goal of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs is that locationally unsustainable developments – which this one is – should be rejected.  You can never satisfactorily resolve today’s housing shortage by building for-ever housing estates in the wrong place.”

Mr Brown said the development could never be sustainable because of the cumulative effect of adverse impacts including:

• The effect on the High Weald National Landscape.
• Coalescing of the distinct villages of Cuckfield and Ansty.
• The loss of good farmland.
• Further fragmentation of ancient woodland.
• The remoteness of the location which would render residents largely car dependent.

The hearing is scheduled to run until 24 June.

Read Michael’s full opening statement here.