"The decision by the planning inspector to allow Rydon to build 42 houses in the AONB [Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty] signals the start of a free-for-all for developers in Mid Sussex.
Many local people will be astonished to learn that the Tories running MSDC never objected to the very high number of houses allocated to Mid Sussex in the South East Plan. Although they now complain that the numbers are not deliverable, they did not propose an alternative development strategy when the plan was being drawn up. Neighbouring councils did - and so were allocated reduced housing targets.
Now we have the worst of all worlds. We do not have a planning policy for development to take place where it will benefit local people. We do not have enough affordable housing for our children to stay and live in the area as they grow up and start their own families. And developers will get permission to build wherever it suits them, regardless of the impact on neighbours or the environment.
The Rydon appeal succeeded because the inspector decided that there is an exceptional need for affordable homes in the area within the next 5 years and the council has not allocated land to build them. But the planning conditions that he ordered mean that building may not even start in the next 5 years - let alone be completed. It seems to me quite wrong that if the justification for giving planning permission is an unfilled urgent need, the permission is not even given in a manner that ensures that the urgent need be provided.
The Tories failure to do the job for which they were elected has let down everyone in the district - now and for many, many years to come."
