The District Planning Committee was scheduled to meet to discuss planning application DM/25/1129 for land at Foxhole Farm, Foxhole Lane, Bolney, West Sussex. The meeting was also scheduled to confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 August 2025.

Land at Foxhole Farm, Foxhole Lane, Bolney

The committee was scheduled to consider application DM/25/1129, an outline application for the erection of up to 200 residential dwellings, including affordable housing; a community building (use class F1)¹ encompassing land for education provision, together with associated access, ancillary parking and landscaping. The application also included a request for the creation of a vehicular access point from the A272 Cowfold Road, and pedestrian and cycle only access to The Street; and creation of a network of roads, footways, and cycleways through the site; together with the provision of countryside open space, children's play areas, community orchard, and allotments; sustainable drainage systems and landscape buffers.

The report pack noted that it was only the means of access that was to be determined at the outline stage with appearance, landscaping, layout and scale to be determined in a subsequent reserved matters application.

The report pack stated that the Assistant Director for Planning and Sustainable Economy recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions and the completion of a section 106 legal agreement to secure the required infrastructure contributions, Travel Plan, open space, the biodiversity net gain requirements and the necessary affordable housing.

The report pack included a summary of representations that had been received.

• 357 letters of objection had been received, raising concerns about:
  • the principle of building on a greenfield site in open countryside, outside the development boundary
  • the impact on highway safety
  • the lack of infrastructure to support the development
  • the design and impact on the character of the area
  • drainage
  • residential amenity
  • ecology
• 9 letters of support had been received, raising the following issues:
  • the village needs more housing, especially for local younger people
  • support for affordable housing provision
  • the proposal is a nice extension to village with infrastructure and open spaces
  • support for a purpose built community hub for the Kangaroos Charity[^1] [^1]: Kangaroos is a charity based in Mid Sussex that provides activities and support for children, teenagers and adults with learning disabilities.

The report pack also summarised the views of consultees including:

• WSCC Planning (Infrastructure): No objection subject to securing s106 Infrastructure contributions towards Education, Libraries and Total Access Demand.
• WSCC Local Lead Flood Authority: No objection subject to conditions.
• WSCC Highway Authority: No objection subject to conditions and securing a financial contribution for enhancing the A272 around the Foxhole Lane junction.
• WSCC Public Rights of Way Officer: No objection subject to a financial contribution towards surface improvements to Public Right of Way (PRoW) Footpath (FP) 44Bo.
• National Highways: Content that the proposal would not have an unacceptable impact on the safety, reliability, and/or operational efficiency of the Strategic Road Network in the vicinity of the site (A23) provided that a construction traffic management plan condition is imposed.
• Sussex Police Crime Prevention: Made recommendations regarding the layout and design of the scheme.
• NHS Sussex: Require an infrastructure contribution which will be used for patient capacity increases at one or all the GP practices which will serve the catchment population of this proposed development.
• Historic England: Not offering advice.
• Ecological Consultant: No objection subject to conditions.
• Landscape Consultant: No objection, but had some remaining concerns regarding the detailed design and how the layout can accommodate these.
• Heritage Consultant: No objection, but recommends that a programme of archaeological trial trenching, secured by a condition, is undertaken on the proposed development site.
• MSDC Planning Policy: Comments in relation to policy requirements, housing land supply position, site selection process.
• MSDC Contaminated Land Officer: Recommended a phased contaminated land condition should be attached to ensure the site is safely developed for its end use.
• MSDC Environmental Protection Officer: Recommended approval subject to conditions including on lighting, air quality, noise protection for future residents.
• MSDC Housing Enabling Team Manager: The proposal generates a requirement for 60 affordable units.
• MSDC Tree Officer: No objection.
• MSDC Section 106 & Infrastructure Manager: Requires infrastructure contributions towards formal sports, designated play areas, other outdoor provision and local community infrastructure.
• MSDC Conservation Officer: The proposal remains contrary to the requirements of District Plan Policies DP34 and DP35[^3]. [^3]: DP34 and DP35 of the Mid Sussex District Plan relate to Listed Buildings and other Heritage Assets, and Conservation Areas respectively.
• MSDC Architect/Urban Designer: Raised no objection to this planning application.
• Twineham Parish Council: Had serious concerns regarding the proposed access on to the A272.

The report pack also included observations from Bolney Parish Council, who objected to the planning application. The Parish Council raised concerns in relation to:

• Settlement Hierarchy
• Settlement Character
• Countryside
• Landscape and Visual
• Impact on Heritage Assets
• Agricultural Land Quality
• Transport
• Planning Obligations

The agenda update sheet noted that additional comments had been received by Twineham Parish Council, reiterating concerns about road safety on the A272 with the proposed access into the site. They also considered that the A23 northbound exit with the A272 is a very poorly laid out junction which results in local lanes being used as rat runs and increases the amount of traffic in Bolney Chapel Road. Twineham Parish Council urged the District Council to arrange for the developers to build a multi storey car park at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, where the parking is already impossible.

The agenda update sheet also clarified that the site does not abut the south-western corner of the northern part of the Conservation Area, and proposed an additional condition in relation to allotments, to ensure that the issue of allotment provision is considered and in the interest of appearance, character and amenity of the area to accord with policy DP26 of the District Plan.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The committee was also scheduled to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 August 2025. The minutes include the following items:

• DM/25/0445 - Land at Colwell Farm, Lewes Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 7TB - It was resolved to refuse the application for the following reasons:
  • Harm to the character of the landscape
  • The unsustainable location of the site and reliance on the private car for access
  • Adverse impact on the setting of heritage assets
  • Adverse impact arising from the loss of trees
  • Absence of a completed s106 to secure the required infrastructure payments and affordable housing
• DM/25/1327 - The Martlets Shopping Centre, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9NN - Planning permission was granted, subject to the conditions listed at Appendix A.
• DM/25/0090 - Land at Eastwood Farm, Shaves Wood Lane, Albourne, West Sussex, BN6 9DY - Planning permission was approved subject to the suggested conditions set in Appendix A.