DAY SEVEN

Today marked the conclusion of evidence before closing submissions.

Giving evidence on behalf of Fairfax, planning consultant Steven Brown said the appeal centred on three key issues: the site’s relationship with the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), settlement coalescence, and prematurity in relation to the emerging District Plan. He also emphasised that Mid Sussex Districy Council (MSDC) does not currently have a five-year housing land supply because its District Plan has not yet been adopted.

Mr Brown argued that landscape impacts had been minimised and did not justify refusal. He stated that constraints across Mid Sussex, including protected areas such as the South Downs and High Weald AONB, make suitable development sites difficult to identify. He also noted that the site’s locational sustainability was largely agreed by the main parties.

On coalescence, Mr Brown said a significant gap between settlements would remain and that the development would not create the perception of villages merging. Regarding the emerging District Plan, he referred to earlier council assessments that had identified the site as a potential development location and argued that the current long list of sites could only be given limited weight.

Addressing prematurity, Mr Brown said there was no evidence that approving the development would prejudice the ongoing District Plan process and that this consideration should therefore be given only limited weight.

On housing delivery, he stated that Fairfax could deliver 300 homes within five years, compared with MSDC’s estimate of 60.

During cross-examination, MSDC’s barrister, Paul Brown KC, challenged several aspects of Fairfax’s case, including claims about previous Council decisions on the site, the weight that should be given to the emerging District Plan, and assumptions about deliverability. Mr Brown accepted that Fairfax would not be the eventual housebuilder, which could affect delivery timescales.

Rule 6 party barrister Jack Parker also questioned the deliverability of the proposed bus service and other planning matters. The Inspector further raised questions about conditions relating to sewage treatment upgrades, with Fairfax and MSDC agreeing to discuss the matter and report back at the next session.

The inquiry will now move to closing submissions before Inspector, Joanna Gilbert, considers her decision.