The Mid Sussex Council Planning Committee met on 11 September 2025 to discuss a number of planning and tree preservation order applications. These included a recommendation to refuse a planning application for the erection of a pre-school, and a recommendation to approve the removal of a planning condition at a business centre. The committee was also scheduled to discuss whether to confirm a new Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

DM/24/2401 - The Platt, Turners Hill Road, Crawley Down

The committee was scheduled to consider a recommendation to refuse planning permission for the erection of a pre-school and associated works at The Platt on Turners Hill Road, Crawley Down. The applicant was Wild Beginnings Pre School Ltd.

According to the report pack, 25 letters of representation had been received in support of the proposal, and 12 in objection. Following the publication of these comments, the proposal was amended to include a pedestrian path from the site along Turners Hill Road towards Crawley Down. After re-advertising the application, 23 further letters of support and 5 additional objections were received. The application was amended again to address discrepancies raised, and re-advertised. Following this, one further letter of support and two additional objections were received. The application was subsequently amended to remove the proposed footpath and a travel plan provided, and the application was re-advertised. Following this, three further letters of objection were received. An amended travel plan was then provided to remove reference to the ability to access the site by foot, and the application was re-advertised. Following this, 22 letters of support and 5 letters of objection were received.

Those in support of the application raised the following points:

• Lack of available local pre-schools and after school places
• Location on main road and good commuter routes
• High quality design
• Incorporates biodiversity and sustainability measures
• Contribution to the local community
• Road is not unsafe and would not cause congestion
• Contributes to the local economy and community

Those objecting to the proposal raised the following concerns:

• Change of use of land
• Impact on the character of the area
• Over intensification of the site
• Inappropriate rural location
• Unsustainable
• No prior consultation
• Impact on rural roads, increased congestion and impact on highway safety
• Increased noise and disturbance from traffic and proposed use
• Impact on biodiversity

West Sussex County Council (WSCC) Highways Authority initially stated that there was no sufficient evidence that the location was appropriate for a pre-school.

The council's Conservation Officer also objected to the proposal, stating:

In my opinion, the current proposal raises a number of concerns in respect of the impact on the existing semi-rural character of the site, and the positive contribution this makes to the generally rural settings of the nearby listed buildings.

The report pack stated that the proposal was considered to fail to amount to sustainable small scale economic development in the countryside, would not maintain the rural quality and be out of keeping with the character of the area, and would detract from the rural character of the area and detract from the settings of the nearby listed buildings. It was noted that Lemon Meadow, Yew Tree Cottage and The Wallage are all Grade II listed buildings.

For these reasons, it was recommended that planning permission be refused, as the proposal was considered to be contrary to policies DP12¹, DP14², DP21³, DP26⁴ and DP34⁵ of the Mid Sussex District Plan, policies CDNP05 and CDNP10 of the Crawley Down Neighbourhood Plan and the relevant provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.

DM/25/1666 - Ashwyn Business Centre, Marchants Way, Burgess Hill

The committee was scheduled to consider a recommendation to grant permission to remove planning condition No: 8 of planning permission BH/205/84 at Ashwyn Business Centre on Marchants Way in Burgess Hill. The applicant was Camper Sales Ltd.

Condition 8 of planning approval BH/205/84 stated:

Except with the prior written consent in writing of the Local Planning Authority, no more than one factory unit having a floor area of 150 square metres or less shall be occupied at any one time by any one firm or subsidy thereof.

Reason: In order to maintain the availability of small units as starter factories in accordance with Structure Plan policy and policies contained in the Burgess Hill District Plan.

According to the report pack, the application was being reported to committee as Mid Sussex District Council is the landowner. It was noted that no representations had been received.

MSDC Corporate Estates (Property) stated that the units can no longer be considered starter units given the length and nature of the current tenants, who have been in occupation between 5-18 years. They added that Mid Sussex District Council as the landowner would not object to removal of Condition 8.

Burgess Hill Town Council recommended approval of the application.

The report pack stated that the primary consideration was whether the starter units at Ashwyn Business Centre have served their purpose in allowing a local business to expand and whether, in light of other recent local unit developments, there is a need to limit the size of the internal space for each unit via Condition 8 of planning approval BH/205/84.

It was recommended that permission be granted to remove planning condition No: 8 of planning permission BH/205/84, subject to the conditions listed at Appendix A of the report pack.

TP/25/0002 - 59 Lucastes Avenue, Haywards Heath

The committee was scheduled to consider whether or not to confirm a new Group Tree Preservation Order (TPO), TP/25/0002, at 59 Lucastes Avenue, Haywards Heath.

According to the report pack, the trees are located within the Lucastes Conservation Area, therefore 6 weeks' notification is required for any works to trees.

Notification was received on 3 March 2025, and validated on 9 April 2025, for works to remove epicormic growth from an oak tree and fell three hornbeam trees, along the frontage with Blunts Wood Road. A TPO was subsequently made on the three hornbeams prior to the 6 week date.

An objection had been received on behalf of the owner of the site, summarised as follows:

• The owner states that he did not apply to fell the trees, merely to cut them back
• The TPO was imposed without conversation or explanation
• An MSDC tree, a hornbeam, has already fallen on to the road. The owner simply wants to prevent this happening again.

The report pack stated that officers were satisfied that in making the Order full regard has been given to the legislative requirements set out in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the published guidance within the National Planning Policy Guidance.

It was recommended that the Order is confirmed.

Other items

The committee was also scheduled to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 August 2025, and to consider any questions pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 10.2.