24th February 2026

Cuck-stye campaign gets set for Inquiry

After four years of relentless campaigning the final day of judgement for the Say No to Cuck-stye campaign is looming with an all-important government Planning Appeal starting in the summer.

If Fairfax succeed in reversing the decision of Mid Sussex District councillors last October to block an unsustainable plan for 1,450 houses, the rural villages of Cuckfield and Ansty will change beyond recognition.

On June 9th at 10am, the newly appointed Planning Inspector Joanne Gilbert will start a 12-day Inquiry – double the predicted length – after which she will issue a definitive ruling.

MSDC are expected to rigorously defend the decision of their councillors to reject the plan for sound planning reasons, with the support of their top KC, Paul Brown.

Working in close partnership with MSDC, the Cuck-stye campaign legal team, will bolster and reinforce the legal case whilst focusing on separate key issues and bringing forward vital expert witnesses to substantiate the individual points of planning law.

A corporate legal team representing Fairfax are sure to claim their plans for the site, which borders an Area of Outstanding Beauty, does not flout sustainability planning laws.

They will assert that it will be a so-called “20-minute community”, which is proven only to work in urban areas, and that new residents will walk and cycle and not rely on cars, which therefore will not have a major impact on traffic congestion. And they promise a bus service which local operators say there is no business case to provide.

By way of community payback, known as S106 payments, they have pledged a SEND School which West Sussex Education Authority say won’t happen as its in wrong location and a promised doctor’s surgery is equally unlikely to materialise, as Cuckfield Surgery is about half a mile away.

“We have been working on our case for many months now, supported by a range of consultants and legal advisers and will be well prepared for the Inquiry ” said Andy Burton, Chair of Cuckfield Parish Council.

“The whole team is grateful for the continuing and vociferous support from the community as we try and preserve our villages from being swamped,” he added.

Thanks to years of community fundraising, boosted by a highly successful Race Night event at Queen’s Hall recently, which raised over £6K, progress has been made towards £100K budget to secure top quality, but cost-effective, representation at the Inquiry maximising our chances of success.

“We are in a pretty strong position but as the inquiry is likely to last about twice as long as expected, we have some challenges ahead to ensure we meet our revised target,” said Giles King, Chair of Cuckfield Society, who along with professional local fundraiser Hayley Bradbury, is managing a final round of contributions.

Various additional fundraising events are planned for the next three months including a Disco Bingo event on April 25th at Queens Hall, 7pm….Click here to buy tickets which are selling fast.

We will have a well-stocked Pimms Bar at the Cuckoo Fayre on Monday, May 4th.

We will also have a stand at Cuckfield Parish Council’s Annual meeting on Thursday, March 26th, 7pm at the Queen’s Hall.

To donate to the campaign please click here or visit Cuckfield Society's new website.

f you would like to contact the team do email us at cuckfield.society@gmail.com.