Cuck-Stye campaigners occupy Parliament Square as petition is delivered to Housing minister Rayner

CAPITAL SHOW: Cuck-Stye campaigners in Parliament Square

Cuckfield’s fighting spirit made its way to the capital this week as residents took their battle against a proposed 1,450-home development to Westminster.

Campaigners delivered a petition bearing 1700 signatures against the proposal, to the offices of Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, as well as staging a protest in Parliament Square. The banner which is a familar sight in Cuckfield, was unfurled as they pressed the Government to back Mid Sussex District Council’s original refusal of the scheme last year.

Developer Fairfax Acquisitions appealed, arguing the district needs more housing and that the project would deliver 1,450 homes, including 30% affordable housing, alongside infrastructure and transport improvements. Fairfax, which stands to make a considerable profit if outline permission is given the go-ahead, claimed benefits outweighed environmental harm.

Campaigners say the development would overwhelm open countryside, erode the High Weald setting and blur the identities of Cuckfield and Ansty, effectively merging the villages. Residents argue the site is in the wrong place for a scheme of such a huge scale.

The appeal was heard in Haywards Heath over nine days in June. Secretary of State at the time, Steve Reed, intervened on day three, ruling that the final decision will be made in Westminster rather than by appointed planning inspector Joanna Gilbert, who heard the appeal. She will now just put forward a recommendation.

Raynor, Reeds successor, is expected to make a ruling in the autumn.