Process must be followed...
In response to your recent articles on the change of position of the Conservativeled Mid Sussex District Council over the district plan review, it is important to understand the history of the National Planning Framework (NPF) and MSDC’s attempts to ignore it.It was introduced by the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition government in 2012, amended by the Conservative government in 2018 and updated again in 2021. The MSDC District Plan was only belatedly agreed after the failure of the council to provide land supply figures led to a time consuming and costly inspectorate hearing that instructed MSDC what housing it should provide, with a review built in for 2023.
It is clear that the council’s planning officers have done this thoroughly: at the recent Housing, Planning and Economic Scrutiny Committee meeting it was stated that the alternative to having a plan is to hand over all building to speculative development.
It seems that Cllr
Jonathan Ash-Edwards in his personal statement as leader of the Conservative ruling majority believes that all that is needed is for him to ‘press the pause button’ and that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities will magically allow Mid Sussex to wriggle free.
There is no evidence for this belief and it is foolish for him and for his allies on the council to try to persuade the public that they can evade their responsibilities.
As has happened before developers will point to the failure to follow process in the application of the NPF and they will be free to build what they like, wherever they like.
Labour is fully prepared to enter into a public consultation on proposals for housing in Mid Sussex.
Our approach has been consistent throughout our responses to the district plan, such as the nowdiscarded Planning for the Future white paper and the Haywards Heath Masterplan.
The model for assessing housing need is based on projected population and household growth. We have concerns over the degree to which ministers are able to affect the outcome of the calculation and there is a need for reform both in the national process and in the assessments made for the South-East in general and Mid Sussex in particular.
Good policy should always be developed by an integrated, coherent approach that involves the current residents, understanding the needs of future residents, the role not only of the council but of all other providers.
In this context we should point out that
MSDC is not a provider of infrastructure like new schools, GP surgeries and other community facilities but has the power and the responsibility of being a negotiator with developers through Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy to ensure that these are delivered.
The power in that negotiation comes from following process absolutely.
Labour also believes that any new planning legislation must ensure high environmental standards for all new housing and address the need for council and socially affordable rented housing, linked to average pay not house prices.
PAM HAIGH Chair of Mid Sussex CLP LINDA TAYLOR Chair of Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint branch Labour Party c/o Junction Road, Burgess Hill