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How do you solve the housing crisis in rural Sussex?



This was the question we helped pose at a recent roundtable discussion. 


Julian Glover, former Special Adviser to Number 10, more relevantly the author of the Landscapes Review (National Parks and AONB) led the discussion with local councillors, planning experts, developers, and environmental representatives. Critical issues, around economy, place and transport were all explored. The need to engage early and often so as to build trust and credibility for all sides was raised throughout the discussion.


‘What Makes New Towns Succeed and Others Fail’. Tim Slaney, (South Downs National Park Authority), reflected on his home town, Hatfield, as one that was designed to be  a ‘joyous union of town and country’. However it was hampered by design flaws. He stressed the importance of integrating transport, employment and community facilities into the design of a new town.


How to Ensure New Residents Get the Benefits of a New Town’. For new towns to thrive, infrastructure and amenities must be integral to the planning process. Councillor Paul Keene, Deputy Chair of Planning at Lewes District Council and Tristan Robinson, Director of External Affairs and Social Value at Thakeham, highlighted the critical need for schools, transport networks, and healthcare facilities. Large developments, can directly deliver infrastructure, unlike smaller projects that disperse contributions into general local authority budgets.


Genuinely affordable must be a priority. A challenge that the discussion wrestled with is that truly affordable housing can only be genuine if it's located near transport links and essential amenities. There is very little point in developing homes for people to live in if infrastructure links simply do not exist. Councillor Ian Tysh (Wealden District Council)  stressed the need for social housing, pointing out that only 10% of current “affordable” housing meets this definition.


‘How to Protect the Local Community and Environment when Building a New Town’. Environmental sustainability was a recurring theme throughout the discussion. Laura Brook, Head of Nature Recovery for Sussex Wildlife Trust, emphasised the importance of aligning development with the Environment Act’s 2030 restoration goals, urging a focus on biodiversity, water capacity, and carbon neutrality.


Collaboration. Participants also explored ways to mitigate the impact on local communities. Collaboration was emphasised as a way to balance growth with community needs. Delivering growth through local plans and extensive community consultation to ensure developments align with both local and environmental priorities should not be underestimated. Building the trust and credibility of all groups in the process should also be seen as a priority.


Location, Location, Location. The distribution of any new homes across rural Sussex must first of all be targeted next to urban areas with existing infrastructure. New communities  should only be built where there is a clear purpose and robust infrastructure to support them. Should community needs be prioritised over large-scale profit led projects?  Employment opportunities, transport links, and existing infrastructure should all be prioritised.


So how do you resolve the housing crisis in rural Sussex? Well, a good place to begin is starting off conversations like this one. Start understanding each other’s points of view.  Foster a deeper appreciation for the challenging positions faced by all of us - councillors, developers, and communities alike.


By engaging with communities early and often, developments can be both community-led and achievable. Come and talk to the experts if you would like us to help you.


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