Save Sugworth Farm Action Group campaigns to save ‘beautiful site’ in Haywards Heath from new homes

Save Sugworth Farm Action Group wants land east of Borde Hill Lane removed from the draft Mid Sussex District Plan 2021-2039.

They fear the number of homes could rise to 315 due to information in April’s Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment.

The 10.5 hectare site is item DPH11 in the draft plan, which is open for consultation until December 19.

Property developer Fairfax said: “We confirm that Fairfax are seeking allocation for development of new homes including affordable housing on the Sugworth land, adjoining Haywards Heath, through the draft District Plan.”

Campaigner Alex Rees, of Orchard Way, said: “We feel this area should be removed from the plan for a number of reasons. It is a beautiful site. It is right next to the High Weald area of outstanding natural beauty and development will affect the visual amenity.”

Alex said the housing could negatively affect wildlife and biodiversity too. He added that there has already been ‘substantial housing development’ at Penlands Green so developing Sugworth Farm would significantly increase the volume of housing in the area.

Save Sugworth Farm Action Group said local infrastructure and amenities are already strained with pressure on roads, parking and schools. They said the area has problems with flooding and campaigners are worried a new development could make this worse.

Alex added: “We’re encouraging people to object for very good technical reasons.”

Ansty and Staplefield Parish Council agreed to oppose the inclusion of Sugworth Farm in the plan at a meeting on November 14, saying the site presents many environmental issues, including a flood risk.

On November 5, Haywards Heath Town Council’s Planning Committee unanimously objected.

A Town Council spokesperson said: “The site is not within the Town built area or boundary as it is located within the Parish of Ansty and Staplefield. The site is on the build line boundary of the Town, however development of this greenfield site bordering the AONB would reduce the essential green lung buffer for the community and lead to further urban sprawl coalescence with Ansty and Staplefield.”

They added that the site ‘conflicts with key objectives of the Reg 18 District Plan’, saying that ‘as a greenfield site, this is not an efficient land use in the terms of housing provision’.

They also said: “This site does not meet the sustainable 20 minutes ambitions of our future communities, due to the poor road and footway infrastructure in this area which significantly compromises highway safety.”

The council spokesperson added: “The site if brought forward will also depend entirely upon the infrastructure of Haywards Heath. This is not a truly sustainable, connected site, as it is physically detached from services and the Town Centre, thus requiring significant vehicle use to make it viable. The Town Council also stresses that if the site comes forward, it expects all infrastructure payments and future Council tax revenues to be allocated to the Town to meet the added pressure on its services and facilities, and not remitted to a remote satellite village that is totally detached from this site or the responsibility to support it.”

Mid Sussex MP Mims Davies said: “It is, of course, within the owners’ rights to offer this site as part of the planning process. Current residents are of course disappointed with the potential loss of view and the reality of being immediately impacted by these potentially significant changes at the gateway to Haywards Heath. All areas need to manage carefully housing needs and local impacts and no area is immune to the deep conundrum it creates.”

She said: “It is vital all parties here work together, so that near neighbours’ concerns are allayed and the community benefits of additional homes are realised.”

District councillor Robert Salisbury, cabinet member for Planning said: “The proposed sites were assessed using a methodology based on government guidance and best planning practice, which takes into account a range of considerations including protection of Ancient Woodland.”

He added: “The Council has set requirements for the ‘Sugworth Farm’ site, which mean that any development proposals must be prepared in line with a landscape led masterplan and that any potential impacts on the setting of the AONB be carefully considered and managed.”

Councillor Salisbury said the infrastructure requirements include the on-site provision of 30 per cent affordable housing and financial contributions towards infrastructure like education and medical facilities.

Visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/planning-building/mid-sussex-district-plan/district-plan-review.