14th August 2025

CUCK-STYE CAMPAIGN on RED ALERT - ANNOUNCEMENT IMMINENT!

The officers at Mid Sussex Planning department are currently considering whether to recommend the approval of the Fairfax plans for Ansty Farm and the Country Park/Parkland Reserve.

In addition, the new District Plan has been stalled and therefore the Council does not have the 5 year housing supply that National Planning Policy demands. This can strengthen the case in favour of development.

The good news however is that the decision on the planning applications is not made by the Planning Officers but by the District Planning Committee members who are all local councillors.

Our hope is that enough of the committee members and perhaps all of them, will reject the Fairfax applications whatever the recommendation from the planning officers turns out to be.

The Parish Councils, The Action Group, The Cuckfield Society and others will have the opportunity to speak at the District Planning Committee which may take place as early as September 18th and we collectively need to make this count!

It will also be possible for up to 50 members of the public to attend in person at the Mid Sussex Council Chambers at Oaklands Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1SS. The meetings start at 2pm and we will further advise when the date is known and how to book your place in the public gallery.

Note will be taken of the level of public opposition that this application has attracted so your presence (if you can make it) is important. Places in the gallery are limited and if you are unable to obtain a place might be able to gather outside the meeting to show their support for our position.

If the application is refused, it will almost certainly be appealed by the developer and this is likely to be heard by the planning Inspectorate in Bristol (probably in the Spring of next year). This will be the very FINAL DECISION and so what we do between then and now will be of critical importance.

On the 3rd September at 7.30 we will be holding a public meeting at the Hayloft above the Talbot Pub. By that time we will be in a position to share further information concerning recent events and there will be ample opportunity to lay out the immediate roadmap going forward.

There will be an opportunity both to ask questions and to hear in more detail how you can support us going forward.

We hope you can join us then.

Giles King (Chairman of the Cuckfield Society) and Simon Stokes (On behalf of the Stop Cuck-Stye Action Group)