East Grinstead Area Action Plan

Latest News November 2008

The District Council has decided to merge proposals for strategic development at East Grinstead into the Core Strategy.

In July 2007 the District Council agreed the content of the Area Action Plan for submission to Government (see below). However, in the light of objections from neighbouring local authorities there were concerns about how deliverable the development was, and it was decided to take extra time to try to resolve these issues. The Government also delayed the delivery of the 2,500 homes by taking 2 years to respond with their views on the South East Plan.

During this period the Core Strategy timetable has caught up with the Area Action Plan, so that both documents are now at the same stage. It is now considered that there are many benefits in considering the proposals for strategic development within the district-wide Core Strategy rather than progressing the Area Action Plan to Submission.

The Core Strategy will include the key principles for the strategic development and the detailed masterplanning of the site will be addressed within a subsequent Supplementary Planning Document - the East Grinstead Townwide Plan. This process will be less confusing for the public, will avoid duplication and will make a more efficient use of resources. All representations made by the public as part of the extensive consultation on the Area Action Plan will be considered when refining the Core Strategy as will the vast amount of information and evidence that has been gathered during the progression of the Area Action Plan (all background information can be accessed using the links below).

All information relating to the emerging Core Strategy can be viewed on our Core Strategy page

Introduction to the East Grinstead Area Action Plan

The West Sussex Structure Plan (2004) identified land to the West and South West of East Grinstead as being suitable for major strategic development. This allocation is significant and it is therefore necessary to plan carefully to ensure that new development secures a range of benefits for both the new residents, who want and need to live in the area, and for existing residents who wish to continue enjoying the attractive setting of the town but wish to see improvements to the existing infrastructure. Through joint working the Council believes that this can be done in a way which will minimise the impact on the environment and will build a new part of East Grinstead of which local people can be proud.

Mid Sussex District Council sought to progress the ‘Structure Plan' development through an Area Action Plan which, when adopted, would allocate land for 2,500 homes, as part of a mixed use development; a transport package, including a relief road; and associated infrastructure. It was intended that the Area Action Plan would form part of the Local Development Framework for the District.

The Area Action Plan Pre-Submission document was published for consultation in May 2006. Prior to its publication a considerable amount of background work was undertaken during the Issues and Options stage, including engagement with various local stakeholder groups. The District Council prepared the document and its associated Sustainability Appraisal with additional input from planning and transport consultants to the developer consortium. Officers at West Sussex County Council's Highways and Transport department also provided technical advice, particularly on issues relating to the relief road. This process informed the preparation of this Area Action Plan and enabled the Council to put forward draft development principles, policies and options for public consultation.

The draft Area Action Plan (May 2006) included:

options for the strategic development;
mix of uses within the strategic development;
associated community and service infrastructure;
options for the route of the relief road;
other transport measures; and
timetable for delivery.

Summary of Progress Following Publication of the draft Area Action Plan

Consultation on the Pre-Submission Draft Area Action Plan resulted in a high number of responses. In total, 6,834 individuals and organisations submitted representations on the document. The majority of representations set out an outright rejection of the Area Action Plan Pre-Submission document and Sustainability Appraisal. A detailed analysis of all representations was undertaken and the comments were collated within separate Topic Papers, so that officers could respond to the main points, questions and concerns that had been submitted (See link to Topic Papers below).

Following consideration of the Topic Papers, Full Council (July 2007) agreed that the AAP Submission document would include the ‘full scheme' of 2,500 homes and package of transport improvements to include a relief road that extends slightly into Surrey and East Sussex (See link to Council report below).

It was expected that the Submission document would be prepared and then considered by Full Council in October 2007 and, if approved, Submitted to the Secretary of State in November 2007. This timetable was not met for the reasons set out below (See also link below to 20^th November 2007 position statement).

Mid Sussex District Council, with the assistance from the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) and other relevant partners, decided to take extra time to try to ensure that the Council could confidently submit a ‘Sound' Plan for consideration by an Inspector at Examination. Key concerns related to cross boundary issues and particularly the delivery of the relief road and consistency with other neighbouring Local Authorities' Development Plan Documents.

It is important that further work and progress continues to ensure that the Council is able to progress a scheme for strategic development that is sustainable, deliverable and ‘Sound'.

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For more information:

Email: Planningpolicy
@midsussex.gov.uk

Telephone: 01444 477053

Environment and Planning