Sayers Common Housing Developments
The draft Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) District Plan for 2021 to 2039 contained the intention to permit some 4,000 new homes to be built in the immediate area. Residents will recall the first round of formal consultation in Nov/Dec 2022 and the second round of consultation in Jan/Feb 2024. At each stage the Parish Council submitted detailed comments that can be summarised as: objections to the number of new dwellings in such a small area; and the lack of any master-planning to ensure all the drainage, sewerage, f looding, transport, health, education and community services would be provided.
The final draft Plan was submitted by MSDC in the Summer of 2024, for approval by the Planning Inspector who is assigned by the Government to judge whether the Plan is sound. The Parish Council attended the stage one hearings in October 2024 with the Planning Inspector, to put our points forward. In April 2025, the Planning Inspector concluded that she found the Plan to have failed the “duty to cooperate” requirement with neighbouring councils. MSDC complained to the Secretary of State about the observations made by the Planning Inspector and said they found her comments on the draft plan flawed. This disagreement is not yet resolved and, although there may be more positive news in the new year, in the meantime the developers are proceeding with their plans for new homes and will doubtless get the planning permission they apply for. Two developers have already submitted their planning applications for approval, namely Antler Homes for the 27 dwellings at Chesapeke/Meadow View (Ref: DM/25/1434) and Welbeck Land for 210 dwellings on the Coombe Farm site (Ref: DM/25/2661). Soon to follow will be Reside for 80 dwellings on land west of Kings Business Centre and Wates for the 210 dwellings and new special school at the LVS site. Berkeley/Latimer are not expected to apply for around 2,000 dwellings on land West of Reeds Lane for a few years yet. The Parish Council continues to object to the large number of homes planned, but having recognised the building is probably inevitable, is also pressing for joined-up master-planning for all the development sites in Sayers Common to ensure existing, and new, residents benefit from a well thought out expansion of the village. All developers will contribute funding towards improved infrastructure and local amenities.
To read the full newsletter, please pick up your copy of December’s Hurst Life or click the images to enlarge them.