13th September 2025

CUCK-STYE CAMPAIGN HEADING FOR A 'PENALTY SHOOT-OUT'

Over a hundred supporters of Say No To Cuck-stye packed into a Public Meeting at the Talbot to be faced with a stark update on the long-running campaign (into its fourth year) which is now facing a critical make or break Councillor’s meeting.

Further to news that planning officers of Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC) are probably set to recommend the Fairfax plan to build 1,450 houses — merging Cuckfield and Ansty — it is now clear that the final decision will rest with just twelve elected councillors, who are members of the Planning Committee and can reject the officer’s proposal.

This meeting has been deferred to October 16th with the possibility of further delays to November. Officials only have to give 7 -days' notice for the exact date.

But this will be a strictly controlled process and even if they vote to turn it down the precise planning reasons on which this decision is based will be carefully scrutinised by officers who then require a second vote to ensure that they make a clear and unambiguous decision, which has a chance of standing up in an inevitable Appeal process.

Chair of Cuckfield Parish Council Andy Burton outlined exactly how the process had developed at MSDC over the last few months, explaining how the Fairfax plan is “speculative” as the council do not currently have an "up to date" District Plan and the government have further increased the local housing target.

This is because government inspector Louise Nurser has paused her final verdict on the DP having challenged the council on their plan to help out neighbouring areas, such as Crawley, with their housing needs. It is understood that ongoing discussions are taking place to find an agreed solution.

This technicality gives Fairfax an opening to promote their plan as legally the Council no longer has the 5 year housing supply that national planning rules demand. In effect there is now a "free for all". However under the National Planning Policy Framework these rules still exclude unsustainable sites.

Chair of the Cuckfield Society Giles King detailed the range of measures taken by the campaign including employing a professional team of planning, transport and landscape consultants, funded by local donations.

In addition to that he explained how the leading legal planning practice Landmark Chambers — which are the same ones as used by MSDC planning officers — had been engaged to come up with a watertight case to present to councillors.

Many members of the audience were shocked to find that the critical Planning Committee vote will be conducted via what is effectively a secret ballot but it has since been discovered that a recorded "open" vote can be requested.

Only three speakers will be allowed to make 3-minute presentations at the meeting but our local District Councillor Jim Knight is able to speak with no time constraints. Plans are underway to ensure the overall pitch, at the Councillor meeting, against the Ansty Farm site, is focused, well-rehearsed and effective.

Members of the public are able to attend the meeting in the Public gallery but will need to register in advance.

“We are doing everything possible to make sure we are in a position to present our strongest case and win the vote,” said Simon Stokes, Chair of Ansty & Staplefield Parish Council.

“We will then be fully prepared for an appeal process which will take us into next year. And of course we are very grateful for the strong support from, not only our local community in Ansty and Cuckfield, but also a number of neighbouring villages in Mid-Sussex. We will be sure to update everyone as soon as we have more information,” he added.