Mid Sussex District Councillors have agreed the Mid Sussex District Plan, following detailed examination by independent Inspector, Jonathan Bore.
Council Leader Garry Wall welcomed the decision saying, “This is an important milestone. The Mid Sussex District Plan will guide development across our area, supporting sustainable growth and jobs whilst also protecting the unique character of Mid Sussex.
“With an approved District Plan in place and a five-year rolling housing supply, we have much greater control over how the District develops and we are significantly less vulnerable to developers pursuing speculative developments.
“The Plan will help to provide the affordable homes and the essential infrastructure that is required for Mid Sussex to grow in a sustainable way. There is clearly a need for more housing throughout the Country and Mid Sussex is no exception. The Plan will help to ensure that much needed housing is delivered whilst protecting the unique characteristics of Mid Sussex.”
The Mid Sussex District Plan was submitted to the independent Inspector in August 2016. Over the past 18 months the independent Inspector has been reviewing evidence and listening to views of all those involved, in what is a time-consuming process, before finding the plan sound.
The Inspector has decided that a target of 876 homes per year between now and 2024 is deliverable and will help to meet the significant local need for new housing in Mid Sussex. Of this 30% will be affordable housing.
Councillor Andrew MacNaughton, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning added:
“Getting a Local Plan is a long and complex process. It is technically difficult and the Mid Sussex Plan has been subject to intense scrutiny from the development sector which challenged the Council throughout the 16 month Examination process. It felt a little like David and Goliath at times,” Councillor MacNaughton commented, “but I am delighted that our Plan was found sound and that the Council was able to formally adopt it”.
“The Plan identifies where new housing and employment space should go. I very much hope the development sector will now rise to the challenge and deliver the housing in the way the Plan envisages.”
Further information is available at -
http://www.midsussex.gov.uk/planning-building/mid-sussex-district-plan/